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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 18, 2008
NOBLE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
CAYMAN ISLANDS   001-31306   98-0366361
         
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (Commission File   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)   Number)    
     
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800    
Sugar Land, Texas   77478
     
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 276-6100
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EX-1.1
EX-4.1
EX-4.2
EX-4.3
EX-5.1
EX-5.2
EX-8.1


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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
     On November 18, 2008, Noble Holding International Limited (the “Issuer”), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Noble Corporation (the “Company”), and the Company entered into an underwriting agreement, attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto, with the underwriters named therein with respect to the issue and sale by the Issuer of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Notes”). On November 19, 2008, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Issuer and the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Prospectus Supplement to a Prospectus, each dated November 18, 2008, which are part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-155421) filed by the Issuer and the Company with the Commission. Each of the exhibits to this Form 8-K relate to the offering of the Notes and are hereby incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement.
     The Notes will be issued under an Indenture, to be dated as of November 21, 2008 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as indenture trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008 (together with the Base Indenture (insofar as such indenture governs the Notes but not as it relates to any other debt securities that may be issued by the Company), the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Company and the Trustee. The Indenture provides for the full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest on and all other amounts due under the Notes and the Indenture (the “Guarantee”).
     The Issuer will receive net proceeds from the sale of the Notes of approximately $247.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses. The Issuer intends to transfer the net proceeds to the Company as advances, distributions, repayment of outstanding intercompany indebtedness or a combination of these. The Company intends to use the net proceeds to repay $150 million of long-term debt of a subsidiary of the Company that matures in March 2009 and the outstanding balance under the Company’s unsecured revolving bank credit facility, in each case plus accrued interest. The remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.
     Interest on the Notes will accrue from November 21, 2008 at a rate of 7.375% per annum. Interest on the Notes will be payable by the Issuer on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2009. The Issuer may redeem the Notes in whole or in part at any time and from time to time under the terms provided in the Indenture at a make-whole redemption price as described in the Notes and the Indenture. The Notes will mature on March 15, 2014.
     The Indenture will contain certain restrictions, including, among others, restrictions on the Company’s ability and the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to create or incur secured indebtedness, enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions, and merge or consolidate with another entity.
     The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the Specimen Note for the

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Notes, including the endorsement of the Guarantee, copies of which are filed as exhibits to this Current Report and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
     The information in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
         
EXHIBIT        
NUMBER       DESCRIPTION
1.1
    Underwriting Agreement, dated November 18, 2008, among Noble Corporation, Noble Holding International Limited and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, as representatives of the several underwriters.
 
       
4.1
    Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between Noble Holding International Limited, as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.
 
       
4.2
    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, among Noble Holding International Limited, as Issuer, Noble Corporation, as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.
 
       
4.3
    Specimen Note for the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 of Noble Holding International Limited.
 
       
5.1
    Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
 
       
5.2
    Opinion of Maples and Calder.
 
       
8.1
    Opinion of Maples and Calder with respect to certain tax matters.

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  NOBLE CORPORATION
 
 
Date: November 21, 2008   By:   /s/ Thomas L. Mitchell,    
    Thomas L. Mitchell,   
    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer and Controller 
 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
         
EXHIBIT        
NUMBER       DESCRIPTION
1.1
    Underwriting Agreement, dated November 18, 2008, among Noble Corporation, Noble Holding International Limited and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, as representatives of the several underwriters.
 
       
4.1
    Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between Noble Holding International Limited, as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.
 
       
4.2
    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, among Noble Holding International Limited, as Issuer, Noble Corporation, as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.
 
       
4.3
    Specimen Note for the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 of Noble Holding International Limited.
 
       
5.1
    Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
 
       
5.2
    Opinion of Maples and Calder.
 
       
8.1
    Opinion of Maples and Calder with respect to certain tax matters.

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Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
Noble Holding International Limited
$250,000,000 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014
Underwriting Agreement
November 18, 2008
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
As representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor (defined below) (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of $250,000,000 principal amount of the Notes specified above (the “Securities”), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the “Parent Guarantor”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to guarantee the Company’s payment obligations under the Securities and the indenture governing the Securities (the “Guarantee”).
     1. Each of the Company and the Parent Guarantor represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:
     (a) An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-155421) in respect of the Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective on filing; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Parent Guarantor, the Company or any other co-registrant (the base prospectus filed as part of such registration statement, in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the “Basic Prospectus”; any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act is hereinafter called a

 


 

“Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding Form T-1 and including any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Basic Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof), is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; the form of the final prospectus relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any reference herein to the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of such prospectus; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and any documents filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated therein, in each case after the date of the Basic Prospectus, such Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Parent Guarantor filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Securities is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);
     (b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Parent Guarantor or the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. expressly for use therein;
     (c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is 4:55 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement; the Pricing Prospectus as supplemented by the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on

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Schedule II(a) hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Parent Guarantor or the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. expressly for use therein;
     (d) The documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Parent Guarantor or the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. expressly for use therein, or to any Form T-1; and no such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule II(b) hereto;
     (e) The Registration Statement conforms, and any further amendments to the Registration Statement will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Parent Guarantor or the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. expressly for use therein, or to any Form T-1;

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     (f) The Prospectus conforms, and any further supplements to the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and does not and will not, as of the applicable issue date of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Parent Guarantor or the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein;
     (g) Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries (other than changes due to repurchases of the Parent Guarantor’s ordinary shares under the Parent Guarantor’s announced share repurchase program and changes, if any, in the ordinary course of business, (i) in amounts outstanding under the Parent Guarantor’s unsecured revolving credit facility or (ii) due to issuances of the Parent Guarantor’s ordinary shares under the Parent Guarantor’s share-based employee benefit and options plans) or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus;
     (h) The Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property or do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries or where the failure to have such title or to be free and clear of such liens, encumbrances and defects would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries;
     (i) Each of the Company and the Parent Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as an exempted company limited by shares in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing

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Prospectus, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each of the Parent Guarantor’s subsidiaries set forth on Schedule III hereto (collectively, the “Material Subsidiaries”, and each a “Material Subsidiary”) has been duly incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation;
     (j) The Parent Guarantor has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Parent Guarantor have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each Material Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Parent Guarantor, free and clear, to the knowledge of the Parent Guarantor and the Company, of all liens, encumbrances or claims;
     (k) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as it may be amended and supplemented by any supplemental indenture (the “Indenture”); the Guarantee, which is set forth in the Indenture, has been duly authorized and, when the Indenture is executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, made and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Parent Guarantor entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and, at the Time of Delivery, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Securities, the Guarantee and the Indenture will conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;
     (l) The issue and sale of the Securities, the making of the Guarantee and the compliance by the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Guarantee, the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the memoranda of association or articles of association

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of the Parent Guarantor or the Company, (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except (x) that any rights to indemnification and contribution set forth in this Agreement may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy considerations and (y) with respect to clause (i) above, for such conflicts, breaches or violations as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities, the making of the Guarantee or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Delivery, obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;
     (m) Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is in violation of its memorandum of association, articles of association, certificate of incorporation or other similar organizational document, as applicable; and neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except any default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
     (n) The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Basic Prospectus under the caption “Description of the Notes” and “Description of the Debt Securities”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities and under the caption “Underwriting”, “Plan of Distribution”, and “Cayman Island Tax Considerations”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects;
     (o) Other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, if determined adversely to the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best knowledge of the Parent Guarantor and the Company, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;
     (p) Neither the Company nor the Parent Guarantor is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Pricing Prospectus, will be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

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     (q) (A) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (iii) at the time the Parent Guarantor or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; and (B) at the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Parent Guarantor or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Securities, the Parent Guarantor was not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;
     (r) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries, and have audited the Parent Guarantor’s internal control over financial reporting, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
     (s) The Parent Guarantor maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by the Parent Guarantor’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Parent Guarantor’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Parent Guarantor is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;
     (t) Except as disclosed in the Parent Guarantor’s reports filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus, there have been no changes in the Parent Guarantor’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Parent Guarantor’s internal control over financial reporting;
     (u) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental

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Laws”), (B) the Parent Guarantor and each of its Material Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries and (D) to the knowledge of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws; and
     (v) The Parent Guarantor maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries is made known to the Parent Guarantor’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
     2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.095% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from November 21, 2008 to the Time of Delivery (as defined below), the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
     3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
     4. (a) The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more definitive global Securities in book-entry form that will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its designated custodian. The Company will deliver the Securities to Goldman, Sachs & Co., for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to Goldman, Sachs & Co. at least 48 hours in advance, by causing DTC to credit the Securities to the account of Goldman, Sachs & Co. at DTC. The Company will cause the certificates representing the Securities to be made available to Goldman, Sachs & Co. for checking at least 24 hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on November 21, 2008 or such other time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date are herein called the “Time of Delivery”.

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     (b) The documents to be delivered at the Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross-receipt for the Securities and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(i) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Vinson & Elkins LLP, First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77002-6760 (the “Closing Location”), and the Securities will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at the Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding the Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
     5. The Company and the Parent Guarantor agree with each of the Underwriters:
     (a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the date of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus prior to the Time of Delivery that shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of the Securities, in a form approved by you and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such Rule; to file promptly all other material required to be filed by the Company or the Parent Guarantor with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company or the Parent Guarantor with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Securities, of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order; and in the event of any such issuance of a notice of objection, promptly to take such steps including, without limitation, amending the Registration Statement or filing a

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new registration statement, at its own expense, as may be necessary to permit offers and sales of the Securities by the Underwriters (references herein to the Registration Statement shall include any such amendment or new registration statement);
     (b) If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus that shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof;
     (c) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Securities and the Guarantee for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;
     (d) Prior to 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify you and upon your request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Securities at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;
     (e) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Parent

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Guarantor and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Parent Guarantor, Rule 158);
     (f) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the later of the Time of Delivery and such earlier time as you may notify the Company, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or the Parent Guarantor that mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and that are substantially similar to the Securities or the Guarantee;
     (g) To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Act; and
     (h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”.
     6. (a)(i) The Company and the Parent Guarantor each represents and agrees that, other than the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, without the prior consent of Goldman, Sachs & Co., it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities or the Guarantee that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;
     (ii) each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co., other than (x) one or more free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 405 under the Act to the extent it or they contain(s) the terms of the Securities, the Guarantee or the offering that do not reflect the final terms of the Securities, the Guarantee or the offering and (y) one or more term sheets relating to the Securities, the Guarantee or the offering that do not contain substantive changes from or additions to the final term sheet referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus; and
     (iii) any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (including the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof) is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto;
     (b) The Company and the Parent Guarantor have complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and
     (c) The Company and the Parent Guarantor agree that, if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include

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an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company or the Parent Guarantor will give prompt notice thereof to Goldman, Sachs & Co. and, if requested by Goldman, Sachs & Co., will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document that will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this agreement shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. expressly for use therein.
     7. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities and the Guarantee under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, the Indenture, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities and the Guarantee; (iii) any expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities and the Guarantee for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(d) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the terms of the sale of the Securities and the Guarantee; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities and the Guarantee; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantee; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
     8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company and the Parent Guarantor herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company and the Parent Guarantor shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:
     (a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(a) hereof, and any other material required to

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be filed by the Company or the Parent Guarantor pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act shall have been received; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;
     (b) Vinson & Elkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, with respect to certain matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;
     (c) Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company and the Parent Guarantor, shall have furnished to you their written legal opinion letter, dated the Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, and substantially as set forth on Annex II(a) hereto:
     (d) Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands counsel for the Company and the Parent Guarantor, shall have furnished to you their written legal opinion letter, dated the Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, and substantially as set forth on Annex II(b) hereto.
     (e) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at the Time of Delivery, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in Annex I hereto (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex I(a) hereto and a form of letter to be delivered on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, and as of the Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b) hereto);
     (f) (i) Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries (other

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than changes due to repurchases of the Parent Guarantor’s ordinary shares under the Parent Guarantor’s announced share repurchase program and changes, if any, in the ordinary course of business, (i) in amounts outstanding under the Parent Guarantor’s unsecured revolving credit facility or (ii) due to issuances of the Parent Guarantor’s ordinary shares under the Parent Guarantor’s share-based employee benefit and options plans) or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;
     (g) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the debt securities of the Company or the Parent Guarantor by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any such debt securities;
     (h) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Parent Guarantor’s securities on the New York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;
     (i) The Company and the Parent Guarantor shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(e) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and
     (j) The Company and the Parent Guarantor shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at the Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, respectively, satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the respective representations and warranties of the Company and the Parent Guarantor herein at and as of such time, as to the performance by the Company and the Parent Guarantor of all of their respective obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such time, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (f) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request.

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     9. (a) The Company and the Parent Guarantor will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Parent Guarantor shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Parent Guarantor by any Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein.
     (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Parent Guarantor against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or the Parent Guarantor may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Parent Guarantor by such Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.
     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any

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such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
     (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Parent Guarantor, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the Parent Guarantor and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were

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determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
     (e) The obligations of the Company and the Parent Guarantor under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company or the Parent Guarantor may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability that the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and the Parent Guarantor and to each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Parent Guarantor within the meaning of the Act.
     10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If within 36 hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company and the Parent Guarantor agree to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

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     (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
     (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Parent Guarantor, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
     11. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Parent Guarantor and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, the Company or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company or the Parent Guarantor or any officer or director or controlling person of the Parent Guarantor, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
     12. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, neither the Company nor the Parent Guarantor shall then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, the Securities and the Guarantee are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Parent Guarantor as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, but neither the Company nor the Parent Guarantor shall then be under further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.
     13. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or

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agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly or by Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of you as the representatives.
     14. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as representatives in care of Goldman, Sachs & Co., One New York Plaza, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Registration Department; and if to the Company or the Parent Guarantor shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Parent Guarantor set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company and the Parent Guarantor by you upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
     15. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company, the Parent Guarantor and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and the Parent Guarantor and each person who controls the Company or the Parent Guarantor or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.
     16. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.
     17. The Company and the Parent Guarantor acknowledge and agree that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities and the Guarantee pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Parent Guarantor, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or the Parent Guarantor, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Parent Guarantor with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Parent Guarantor on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company or the Parent Guarantor except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement or any other effective agreement between you and the Company or the Parent Guarantor and (iv) the Company and the Parent Guarantor have consulted their own legal and financial advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate. The Company and the Parent Guarantor agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or the Parent Guarantor, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

19


 

     18. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company or the Parent Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, or any of them, on the other, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
     19.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
     20. The Company, the Parent Guarantor and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
     21. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
     22. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company and the Parent Guarantor are authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company or the Parent Guarantor relating to that treatment and structure without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

20


 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters, the Company and the Parent Guarantor. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.
         
  Very truly yours,

Noble Holding International Limited
 
 
  By:   /s/ Alan R. Hay    
    Alan R. Hay   
    Director   
 
  Noble Corporation
 
 
  By:   /s/ David W. Williams    
    David W. Williams   
    Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President 
 
 
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
         
By:
  /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.    
 
 
 
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
   
 
  On behalf of each of the Underwriters    


 

SCHEDULE I
         
    Principal Amount of
    Securities to be
Underwriter   Purchased
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
  $ 125,000,000  
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
    37,500,000  
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
    37,500,000  
Barclays Capital Inc.
    10,000,000  
DnB NOR Markets, Inc.
    10,000,000  
Fortis Securities LLC
    10,000,000  
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
    7,500,000  
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc
    7,500,000  
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
    5,000,000  
Total
  $ 250,000,000  
Schedule I

 


 

SCHEDULE II
(a)   Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package:
 
    None.
 
(b)   Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference:
 
    None.
Schedule II

 


 

SCHEDULE III
MATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES
     
Name of Subsidiary   Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation
Noble Holding (U.S.) Corporation
  Delaware
     
Noble Drilling Corporation
  Delaware
     
Noble Drilling (U.S.) Inc.
  Delaware
     
Noble Holding International Limited
  Cayman Islands
     
Noble Drilling Holding LLC
  Delaware
     
Noble Asset Company Limited
  Cayman Islands
     
Noble International Limited
  Cayman Islands
Schedule III

 


 

ANNEX I
FORM OF ANNEX I DESCRIPTION OF COMFORT LETTER
FOR REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ON FORM S-3
Noble Corporation
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
and
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
SunTrust Robinson Humphreys, Inc.
(as representatives of the several underwriters)
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York, 1004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have audited:
  1.   the consolidated financial statements of Noble Corporation (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (the “Form 10-K”), which have been recast to include the historical results of Noble Holding International Limited (“NHIL”) as a stand alone entity as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 as reported on Note 19 of the consolidated financials statements included on the Company’s current report on Form 8-K dated November 18, 2008 (the “Form 8-K”), and
 
  2.   the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.
The consolidated financial statements referred to above are all incorporated by reference in the registration statement (No. 333-155421-02) on Form S-3 filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”); our report with respect thereto is also incorporated by reference in such registration statement. Such registration statement, including the prospectus and the preliminary prospectus supplement, both dated November 18, 2008, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement.”
In connection with the Registration Statement:

Annex I-1


 

1.   We are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”).
 
2.   In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements audited by us and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the related rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.
 
3.   We have not audited any financial statements of the Company as of any date or for any period subsequent to December 31, 2007; although we have conducted an audit for the year ended December 31, 2007, the purpose (and therefore the scope) of such audit was to enable us to express our opinion on the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and for the year then ended, but not on the financial statements for any interim period within such year. Therefore, we are unable to and do not express any opinion on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and the unaudited consolidated statements of income, of cash flows, of shareholders’ equity and of comprehensive income included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of any date or for any period subsequent to December 31, 2007. Also, we have not audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of any date subsequent to December 31, 2007. Therefore, we do not express any opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of any date subsequent to December 31, 2007.
 
4.   For purposes of this letter, we have read the minutes of the 2008 meetings of the shareholders, the Board of Directors, and the Audit, Finance, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of the Company and its subsidiaries as set forth in the minute books at November 14, 2008, officials of the Company having advised us that the minutes of all such meetings through that date were set forth therein (except for those listed in Exhibit I, which were not approved in final form, for which drafts were provided to us; officials of the Company have represented that such drafts include all substantive actions taken at such meetings), and have carried out other procedures to November 14, 2008 (our work did not extend to the period from November 15, 2008 to November 18, 2008, inclusive) as follows:
  a.   With respect to the three-month, three- and six-month, and three- and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, June 30, 2008 and 2007 and September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, we have:
  (i)   performed the procedures (completed on May 9, 2008, August 8, 2008 and November 7, 2008, respectively) specified by the PCAOB for a review of interim financial information as described in SAS No. 100, Interim Financial Information , on the unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, and three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, respectively, incorporated

Annex I-2


 

      by reference in the Registration Statement; and
 
  (ii)   inquired of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters whether the unaudited consolidated financial statements referred to in a.(i) above comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as it applies to Form 10-Q and the related rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.
  b.   With respect to the period from October 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, we have:
  (i)   read the unaudited consolidated financial data of the Company and subsidiaries for October of both 2008 and 2007 furnished us by the Company, officials of the Company having advised us that no such financial data as of any date or for any period subsequent to October 31, 2008 were available. The financial information for October of both 2008 and 2007 is incomplete in that it omits the statement of cash flows, of shareholders’ equity and of comprehensive income and other disclosures.
 
  (ii)   inquired of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters as to whether the unaudited consolidated financial data referred to in b.(i) above are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
    The foregoing procedures do not constitute an audit made in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. Also, they would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments in the following paragraph. Accordingly, we make no representations as to the sufficiency of the foregoing procedures for your purposes.
 
5.   It should be noted effective January 1, 2008, the Company partially adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. Nothing came to our attention as a result of the foregoing procedures, however, that caused us to believe that:
             
 
  a.   (i)   Any material modifications should be made to the unaudited consolidated financial statements described in 4.a.(i), incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles .
  (ii)   The unaudited consolidated financial statements described in 4.a.(i) do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as it applies to Form 10-Q and the related rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.
             
 
  b.   (i)   At October 31, 2008 there was any change in the ordinary shares, increase in long-term debt, or decrease in consolidated net current assets (working capital) or shareholders’ equity of the Company and subsidiaries consolidated as compared with amounts shown in the September 30, 2008 unaudited consolidated balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, except that the unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2008, which we were furnished by the Company showed a change from September 30, 2008 in the ordinary shares and an

Annex I-3


 

increase in long-term debt as disclosed in Exhibit II of this letter, or (ii) for the period from October 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in consolidated operating revenues or in the total or per-share amounts of consolidated net income, except in all instances for changes, increases or decreases which the Registration Statement discloses have occurred or may occur.
6.   As mentioned in 4.b., Company officials have advised us that no consolidated financial data as of any date or for any period subsequent to October 31, 2008 are available; accordingly, the procedures carried out by us with respect to changes in financial statement items after October 31, 2008 have, of necessity, been even more limited than those with respect to the periods referred to in 4. We have inquired of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters as to whether (a) at November 14, 2008 there was any change in the ordinary shares, increase in long-term debt of the Company and subsidiaries consolidated as compared with amounts shown in the September 30, 2008 unaudited consolidated balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; or (b) for the period from October 1, 2008 to November 14, 2008, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in consolidated operating revenues or in the total or per-share amounts of consolidated net income. On the basis of these inquiries and our reading of the minutes as described in 4, nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that there was any such change, increase or decrease, except in all instances for changes, increases or decreases which the Registration Statement discloses have occurred or may occur.
 
7.   For purposes of this letter, we have also read the items identified by you on the attached copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement (Exhibit III) forming part of the Registration Statement and the attached copies of the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement which include, the Company’s Form 8-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (Exhibit IV), the Company’s quarterly report filed on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 (Exhibit V), June 30, 2008 (Exhibit VI), and September 30, 2008 (Exhibit VII), and have performed the following procedures, which were applied as indicated with respect to the numbers explained below. We make no comment as to whether the SEC would view any non-GAAP financial information included or incorporated by reference in this document as being compliant with the requirements of Regulation G or Item 10 of Regulation S-K.
  1   Compared the amount to corresponding amounts in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 or the notes thereto, included in the Form 8-K dated November 18, 2008, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement described in the first paragraph of this letter, and found such amount to be in agreement.
 
  2   Recomputed the amount or percentage using amounts contained in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 or the notes thereto, included in the Form 8-K dated

Annex I-4


 

      November 18, 2008, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and found such amount or percentage to be in agreement.

  3   Compared the amount or percentage to or recomputed the amount or percentage based on a Company-prepared schedule, derived from the Company’s accounting records, and found such amount or percentage to be in agreement. We (a) compared the amounts on the schedule to corresponding amounts appearing in the Company’s accounting records and found such amounts to be in agreement, and (b) determined that the schedule was mathematically correct.
 
  4   Compared the amount to corresponding amounts in the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements and/or the related notes thereto, included in the March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 or September 30, 2008 Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement described in paragraph 4a of this letter, and found such amount to be in agreement.
 
  5   Recomputed the amount or percentage using amounts contained in the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements and/or the related notes thereto, included in the March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 or September 30, 2008 Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement described in paragraph 4a of this letter, and found such amount to be in agreement.
 
  6   Compared the ratios of earnings to fixed charges to ratios included on a Company-prepared schedule, derived from the Company’s accounting records, and found such ratios to be in agreement. We (a) compared the amounts on the schedule to corresponding amounts appearing in the Company’s accounting records and found such amounts to be in agreement, and (b) determined that the schedule was mathematically correct. However, we make no comment as to the Company’s compliance with the disclosure requirements of Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K or the appropriateness of management’s use of one-third (1/3) of rent expense as the interest factor.
8.   Our audit of the consolidated financial statements for the periods referred to in the introductory paragraph of this letter comprised audit tests and procedures deemed necessary for the purpose of expressing an opinion on such financial statements taken as a whole. For none of the periods referred to therein, or any other period, did we perform audit tests for the purpose of expressing an opinion on individual balances of accounts or summaries of selected transactions such as those enumerated above, and, accordingly, we express no opinion thereon.

Annex I-5


 

9.   It should be understood that we make no representations regarding questions of legal interpretation or regarding the sufficiency for your purposes of the procedures enumerated in the second preceding paragraph; also, such procedures would not necessarily reveal any material misstatement of the amounts or percentages listed above. Further, we have addressed ourselves solely to the foregoing data as set forth in the Registration Statement and make no representations regarding the adequacy of disclosure or regarding whether any material facts have been omitted.
 
10.   This letter is solely for the information of the addressees and to assist the underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company in connection with the offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted, or otherwise referred to within or without the underwriting group for any other purpose, including but not limited to the registration, purchase, or sale of securities, nor is it to be filed with or referred to in whole or in part in the Registration Statement or any other document, except that reference may be made to it in the underwriting agreement or in any list of closing documents pertaining to the offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement.

Annex I-6


 

ANNEX II(a)
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
FOR THE COMPANY AND THE PARENT GUARANTOR
     1. The Parent Guarantor has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdictions specified in the opinion.
     2. Each of Noble Holding (U.S.) Corporation, Noble Drilling Corporation and Noble Drilling (U.S.) Inc. has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each such corporation have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Parent Guarantor, free from liens, encumbrances or claims (i) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Parent Guarantor or such corporations as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (ii) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
     3. Noble Drilling Holding LLC has been duly organized and is an existing limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and all of its issued and outstanding membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with its limited liability company agreement and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under such limited liability company agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 18-607 of the Delaware LLC Act), and such membership interests are owned directly or indirectly by the Parent Guarantor free from liens, encumbrances or claims (i) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Parent Guarantor or Noble Drilling Holding LLC as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (ii) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, in each case other than liens, encumbrances and claims created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the governing documents of Noble Drilling Holding LLC.
     4. To such counsel’s knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that are of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package that are not described as required.
     5. When the Securities have been authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture and delivered against due payment therefor, the Securities and the Guarantee will constitute a valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against the Company and the Parent Guarantor in accordance with their terms, except as that enforcement is subject to (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws relating to or

Annex II(b)-1


 

affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether that enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing. The Securities and the Guarantee, in the forms certified by the Company as of the date of such opinion, and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) of this Agreement and in the information set forth under the captions “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of the Notes” in the Pricing Prospectus.
     6. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Company, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee, the Indenture constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as that enforcement is subject to (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether that enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing. The Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
     7. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Parent Guarantor of this Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation by the Company and the Parent Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, do not violate or result in any breach of (i) any agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or (ii) any Applicable Laws, except, in the case of clause (i), for such violations or breaches that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Applicable Laws” is defined as the laws of the State of New York, the laws of the State of Texas and the laws of the United States of America that, in such counsel’s experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Agreement and the Indenture.
     8. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any Applicable Governmental Authority is required for the issue and sale by the Company of the Securities, the making of the Guarantee by the Parent Guarantor or the consummation by the Company or the Parent Guarantor of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters. “Applicable Governmental Authority” is defined as any governmental body, agency or court of the United States of America, the State of Texas or the State of New York.
     9. Neither the Company nor the Parent Guarantor is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus neither will be, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
     10. The Registration Statement, and the Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein (except for (i) the financial statements, including the notes thereto and the auditors’ reports thereon, included or incorporated by reference therein, (ii) the other financial

Annex II(b)-2


 

information included or incorporated by reference therein, and (iii) the Statements of Eligibility Under the Trust Indenture Act of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee on Form T-1, as to which such counsel expresses no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, appear on their face to have complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
     Such counsel will also provide the following:
     Such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, representatives of the independent public accountants of the Company and the Parent Guarantor and your representatives at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed. Although such counsel did not independently verify, is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the responsiveness of such statements to legal requirements (except to the extent stated in the last sentence of paragraph 5 above and in paragraph 10 above), such counsel advises you that, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to its attention that lead it to believe that (A) the Registration Statement, as of the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (C) the Prospectus, as of the issue date thereof and as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel has not been asked to comment and expresses no statement or belief with respect to (i) the financial statements and related schedules (including the notes thereto and the independent registered public accounting firm’s reports thereon), (ii) the other financial or accounting data, or (iii) the Statements of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of a corporation designated to act as trustee on Form T-1, in each case included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus).

Annex II(b)-3


 

ANNEX II(b)
FORM OF OPINION OF CAYMAN ISLANDS COUNSEL
FOR THE COMPANY AND THE PARENT GUARANTOR
     1.1 Each of the Parent Guarantor, the Company, Noble Asset Company Limited and Noble International Limited (the “Cayman Subsidiaries”) is an exempted company duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and the Company has the corporate power and authority to own and operate its property and to conduct its business as described in the discussion set forth under the caption “Noble Corporation” in the Prospectus.
     1.2 The Company and the Parent Guarantor have full power and authority under their respective Memorandums and Articles of Association to enter into, execute and perform their obligations under each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and in the case of the Company, to enter into, execute and perform its obligations under the Notes, including the issue of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture.
     1.3 The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, and the issue and offer of the Notes by the Company, and the performance of their obligations thereunder, do not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of their respective Memorandums and Articles of Association or any law, public rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the Parent Guarantor in the Cayman Islands currently in force.
     1.4 The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents has been authorized by and on behalf of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, the Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with their terms.
     1.5 The Notes have been authorized by the Company and the Parent Guarantor, respectively, and when authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture and delivered against due payment therefor will be duly executed and delivered and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms.
     1.6 No authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses, validations or exemptions are required by law from any governmental authorities or agencies or other official bodies in the Cayman Islands in connection with:
          1.6.1 the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable;
          1.6.2 subject to the payment of stamp duty, the enforcement of the Transaction Documents against the Company or the Parent Guarantor, as applicable;

Annex II(c)-1


 

          1.6.3 the offering, execution, authentication, allotment, issue or delivery of the Notes;
          1.6.4 the performance by the Company and the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, of their obligations under the Notes and the Transaction Documents;
          1.6.5 the payment of the principal and interest and any other amounts under the Notes.
     1.7 No taxes, fees or charges (other than stamp duty) are payable (either by direct assessment or withholding) to the government or other taxing authority in the Cayman Islands under the laws of the Cayman Islands in respect of:
          1.7.1 the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents or the Notes;
          1.7.2 the enforcement of the Transaction Documents or the Notes;
          1.7.3 payments made under, or pursuant to, the Transaction Documents; or
          1.7.4 the issue, transfer or redemption of the Notes.
     The Cayman Islands currently have no form of income, corporate or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
     1.8 The courts of the Cayman Islands will observe and give effect to the choice of New York law as the governing law of the Transaction Documents and the Notes.
     1.9 Based solely on our inspection of the Register of Writs and Other Originating process in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands from the respective dates of incorporation of the Company and the Parent Guarantor, there were no actions or petitions pending against the Company or the Parent Guarantor in the courts of the Cayman Islands as at close of business in the Cayman Islands on [ l ] November 2008.
     1.10 Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the State of New York, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize a foreign judgment as the basis for a claim at common law in the Cayman Islands provided such judgment:
          1.10.1 is given by a competent foreign court;
          1.10.2 imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given;
          1.10.3 is final;
          1.10.4 is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and
          1.10.5 was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands.

Annex II(c)-2


 

     1.11 It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Transaction Documents or the Notes that any document be filed, recorded or enrolled with any governmental authority or agency or any official body in the Cayman Islands.
     1.12 Based solely on our review of the Memorandum and Articles of the Parent Guarantor, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$55,000,000 divided into 400,000,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.10 each and 15,000,000 Preferred Shares of a par value of US$1.00 each and based solely on the Officer’s Certificate, the issued shares in the capital of the Company is [*] Ordinary Shares of US$0.10 each and [*] Preferred Shares of US$1.00.
     1.13 Based solely on our review of the Register of Members of the Company, the issued shares in the capital of the NHIL (the “NHIL Issued Shares”) is 10,000 shares of US$1.00 each and the Company is the registered holder of all of the NHIL Issued Shares. The NHIL Issued Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and, assuming that payment for such NHIL Issued Shares has been received in full in accordance with the terms of issue, are fully paid.
     1.14 Based solely on our review of the Register of Members of Noble Asset Company Limited (“NACL”), the issued shares in the capital of NACL (the “NACL Issued Shares”) is 5,000 shares of US$1.00 each and Noble Drilling Holding LLC is the registered holder of all of the NHIL Issued Shares. The NACL Issued Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and, assuming that payment for such NACL Issued Shares has been received in full in accordance with the terms of issue, are fully paid.
     1.15 Based solely on our review of the Register of Members of Noble International Limited (“NIL”), the issued share in the capital of NIL (the “NIL Issued Share”) is 12,000 shares of US$1.00 each and Noble Drilling Holding LLC is the registered holder of all of the NIL Issued Shares. The NIL Issued Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and, assuming that payment for such NIL Issued Shares has been received in full in accordance with the terms of issue, is fully paid.

Annex II(c)-3

Exhibit 4.1
 
 
 
NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
ISSUER
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
TRUSTEE
 
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 21, 2008
 
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
(ISSUABLE IN SERIES)
 
 

 


 

NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 21, 2008
     
Section of    
Trust Indenture   Section(s) of
Act of 1939   Indenture
Section 310(a)(1)
  609
(a)(2)
  609
(a)(3)
  Not Applicable
(a)(4)
  Not Applicable
(b)
  608, 610
Section 311(a)
  613
(b)
  613
(c)
  Not Applicable
Section 312(a)
  701, 702(a)
(b)
  702(b)
(c)
  702(b)
Section 313(a)
  703(a)
(b)
  703(a)
(c)
  703(a)
(d)
  703(b)
Section 314(a)
  704, 1005
(b)
  Not Applicable
(c)(1)
  103
(c)(2)
  103
(c)(3)
  Not Applicable
(d)
  Not Applicable
(e)
  103
Section 315(a)
  601(a)
(b)
  602
(c)
  601(b)
(d)
  601(c)
(d)(1)
  601(a)(1)
(d)(2)
  601(c)(2)
(d)(3)
  601(c)(3)
(e)
  514
Section 316(a)(1)(A)
  502, 512
(a)(1)(B)
  513
(a)(2)
  Not Applicable
(a) last sentence
  101
(b)
  508
Section 317(a)(1)
  503
(a)(2)
  504
(b)
  1003
Section 318(a)
  108
 
(1)   Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

i


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
         
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    1  
 
       
SECTION 101. Definitions
    1  
Act
    1  
Additional Amounts
    1  
Affiliate
    2  
Agent Members
    2  
Authenticating Agent
    2  
Authorized Newspaper
    2  
Board of Directors
    2  
Board Resolution
    2  
Business Day
    2  
Commission
    2  
Company
    2  
Company Request
    2  
Company Order
    2  
Conversion Event
    2  
Corporate Trust Office
    2  
Default
    2  
Defaulted Interest
    3  
Depositary
    3  
Dollar
    3  
Event of Default
    3  
Exchange Rate
    3  
Holder
    3  
Indenture
    3  
Interest
    3  
Interest Payment Date
    3  
Judgment Currency
    3  
Maturity
    3  
Officers’ Certificate
    3  
Opinion of Counsel
    3  
Original Issue Discount Security
    3  
Outstanding
    3  
Paying Agent
    4  
Person
    4  
Place of Payment
    4  
Predecessor Security
    4  
Redemption Date
    4  
Redemption Price
    5  
Regular Record Date
    5  
Required Currency
    5  
Responsible Officer
    5  
Securities
    5  
Security Custodian
    5  
Security Register
    5  
Special Record Date
    5  
Stated Maturity
    5  
Subsidiary
    5  
Trustee
    5  
Trust Indenture Act
    5  
United States
    5  
 
1   Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

ii


 

         
United States Alien
    6  
U.S. Government Obligations
    6  
Vice President
    6  
Wholly Owned Subsidiary
    6  
Yield to Maturity
    6  
 
       
SECTION 102. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
    6  
 
       
SECTION 103. Compliance Certificates and Opinions
    6  
 
       
SECTION 104. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee
    7  
 
       
SECTION 105. Acts of Holders; Record Dates
    7  
 
       
SECTION 106. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company
    8  
 
       
SECTION 107. Notice to Holders; Waiver
    8  
 
       
SECTION 108. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act
    9  
 
       
SECTION 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
    9  
 
       
SECTION 110. Successors and Assigns
    9  
 
       
SECTION 111. Separability Clause
    9  
 
       
SECTION 112. Benefits of Indenture
    9  
 
       
SECTION 113. Governing Law
    9  
 
       
SECTION 114. Legal Holidays
    9  
 
       
SECTION 115. Corporate Obligation
    10  
 
       
SECTION 116. Force Majeure
    10  
 
       
SECTION 117. Waiver of Jury Trial
    10  
 
       
ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS
    10  
 
       
SECTION 201. Forms Generally
    10  
 
       
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
    10  
 
       
SECTION 203. Securities in Global Form
    11  
 
       
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES
    13  
 
       
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series
    13  
 
       
SECTION 302. Denominations
    15  
 
       
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
    15  
 
       
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities
    16  

iii


 

         
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange
    16  
 
       
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities
    17  
 
       
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved
    18  
 
       
SECTION 308. Person Deemed Owners
    19  
 
       
SECTION 309. Cancellation
    19  
 
       
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest
    19  
 
       
SECTION 311. CUSIP Numbers
    19  
 
       
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
    19  
 
       
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
    19  
 
       
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money
    21  
 
       
SECTION 403. Discharge of Liability on Securities of Any Series
    21  
 
       
SECTION 404. Reinstatement
    21  
 
       
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES
    22  
 
       
SECTION 501. Events of Default
    22  
 
       
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
    23  
 
       
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
    24  
 
       
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
    24  
 
       
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons
    25  
 
       
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected
    25  
 
       
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits
    26  
 
       
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest
    26  
 
       
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies
    26  
 
       
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative
    27  
 
       
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver
    27  
 
       
SECTION 512. Control by Holders
    27  
 
       
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults
    27  
 
       
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs
    28  
 
       
SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws
    28  

iv


 

         
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE
    28  
 
       
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities
    28  
 
       
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults
    29  
 
       
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee
    29  
 
       
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
    30  
 
       
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities
    30  
 
       
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust
    30  
 
       
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement
    31  
 
       
SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests
    31  
 
       
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility
    32  
 
       
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
    32  
 
       
SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
    33  
 
       
SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
    34  
 
       
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company
    34  
 
       
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent
    34  
 
       
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDER’S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
    35  
 
       
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders
    35  
 
       
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders
    35  
 
       
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee
    36  
 
       
SECTION 704. Reports by the Company
    36  
 
       
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
    36  
 
       
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms
    36  
 
       
SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted for Company
    37  
 
       
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
    37  
 
       
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders
    37  
 
       
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders
    38  
 
       
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures
    39  
 
       
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures
    39  

v


 

         
SECTION 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act
    39  
 
       
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures
    39  
 
       
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS
    39  
 
       
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest
    39  
 
       
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency
    39  
 
       
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust
    40  
 
       
SECTION 1004. Existence
    41  
 
       
SECTION 1005. Statement by Officers as to Default
    41  
 
       
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants
    41  
 
       
SECTION 1007. Additional Amounts
    41  
 
       
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
    42  
 
       
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article
    42  
 
       
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee
    42  
 
       
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed
    42  
 
       
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption
    43  
 
       
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price
    43  
 
       
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date
    43  
 
       
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part
    44  
 
       
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS
    44  
 
       
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article
    44  
 
       
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities
    44  
 
       
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund
    44  
 
       
ARTICLE THIRTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
    45  
 
       
SECTION 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called
    45  
 
       
SECTION 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings
    45  
 
       
SECTION 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings
    45  
 
       
SECTION 1304. Quorum; Action
    45  
 
       
SECTION 1305. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings
    46  

vi


 

         
SECTION 1306. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings
    46  

vii


 

     INDENTURE, dated as of November 21, 2008, between NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at c/o Maples and Calder, P.O. Box 309 GT, Ugland House South Church Street Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), the office of the Trustee at which at the date hereof its corporate trust business is principally administered being 601 Travis Street, 18th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
     The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.
     This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.
     All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
     NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
     For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
     SECTION 101. Definitions.
     For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
  (1)   the terms defined in this Article One have the meanings assigned to them in this Article One and include the plural as well as the singular;
 
  (2)   all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation; and
 
  (3)   the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
     Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in Section 102.
     “Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 105.
     “Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts that are required by the express terms of a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein or pursuant thereto, to be paid by the

1


 

Company with respect to certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.
     “Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
     “Agent Members” has the meaning specified in Section 203.
     “Authenticating Agent” means any Person, which may include the Company, authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to authenticate Securities of one or more series.
     “Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.
     “Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
     “Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
     “Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in the Place of Payment or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office is located are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
     “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
     “Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
     “Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by (A) (i) a director of the Company or (ii) its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or a Vice President and (B) a director (who shall be in addition to any director who signs pursuant to clause(A) (i)), its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
     “Conversion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 501.
     “Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is that indicated in the introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
     “Default” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

2


 

     “Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.
     “Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in a global form, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.
     “Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
     “Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.
     “Exchange Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 302.
     “Holder,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.
     “Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301 and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument.
     “Interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
     “Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
     “Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 506.
     “Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
     “Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by (A) (i) a director of the Company or (ii) the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and (B) a director (who shall be in addition to any director who signs pursuant to clause (A) (i)), the Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Controller or Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee, which certificate shall be in compliance with Section 103 hereof.
     “Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Company, rendered, if applicable, in accordance with Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, which opinion shall be in compliance with Section 103 hereof.
     “Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
     “Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities of a series, means as of the date of determination, all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

3


 

  (i)   Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
 
  (ii)   Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore irrevocably deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and
 
  (iii)   Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
 
      provided , however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (b) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined by the Company on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in (a) above), of such Security and (c) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
     “Paying Agent” means any Person, which may include the Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any one or more series of Securities on behalf of the Company.
     “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.
     “Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series are payable as specified in accordance with Section 301 subject to the provisions of Section 1002.
     “Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
     “Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to the terms of such Security and this Indenture.

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     “Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of such Security and this Indenture.
     “Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, or, if not so specified, the first day of the calendar month of the month of such Interest Payment Date if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of the calendar month or the fifteenth day of the calendar month preceding such Interest Payment Date if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a calendar month, whether or not such day shall be a Business Day.
     “Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 506.
     “Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
     “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
     “Security Custodian” means, with respect to Securities of a series issued in global form, the Trustee for Securities of such series, acting in its capacity as custodian with respect to the Securities of such series, or any successor entity thereto.
     “Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.
     “Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
     “Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
     “Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, a corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock or other beneficial interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the full board of directors or other governing body of such corporation or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or other beneficial interests of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person, or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
     “Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
     “Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905; provided , however, that, in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
     “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia) and its “possessions,” which include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

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     “United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual, a nonresident alien or foreign fiduciary of an estate or trust, or a foreign partnership.
     “U.S. Government Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 401.
     “Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.
     “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, a corporation or other entity of which all of the outstanding stock or other beneficial interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the full board of directors or other governing body of such corporation or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or other beneficial interests of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person, or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
     “Yield to Maturity,” when used with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security, means the yield to maturity, if any, set forth on the face thereof.
     SECTION 102. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
     Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
     “Bankruptcy Act” means the Bankruptcy Act or Title 11 of the United States Code.
     “indenture securities” means the Securities.
     “indenture security holder” means a Holder.
     “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
     “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
     “obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Securities.
     All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by a Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule under the Trust Indenture Act and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.
     SECTION 103. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
     Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
     Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include

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  (1)   a statement that each Person signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
 
  (2)   a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
 
  (3)   a statement that, in the opinion of each such Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
 
  (4)   a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
     SECTION 104. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
     In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
     Any certificate or opinion of an officer or director of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer or director knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer, officers or director of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
     Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
     SECTION 105. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
     (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding of any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 105. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1306.
     The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Securities entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, those Persons who were Holders of Outstanding Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled with respect to such Securities to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense,

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shall cause notice thereof to be given to the Trustee in writing in the manner provided in Section 106 and to the relevant Holders as set forth in Section 107.
     (b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
     (c) The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
     (d) In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 at the time the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee for such Securities.
     (e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security. Any consent or waiver of the Holder of any Security shall be irrevocable for a period of six months after the date of execution thereof, but otherwise any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or other Act as to his Security or portion of his Security; provided , however, that such revocation shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the Act becomes effective.
     SECTION 106. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.
     Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
  (1)   the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or
 
  (2)   the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
     SECTION 107. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
     Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
     In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service, or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders of Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the

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approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case in which notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Security, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities.
     Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
     SECTION 108. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act.
     If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any provision of the Trust Indenture Act or another provision hereof required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the former provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded.
     SECTION 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
     The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
     SECTION 110. Successors and Assigns.
     All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether or not so expressed.
     SECTION 111. Separability Clause.
     In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
     SECTION 112. Benefits of Indenture.
     Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar and the Holders.
     SECTION 113. Governing Law.
     This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
     SECTION 114. Legal Holidays.
     In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of any series need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

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     SECTION 115. Corporate Obligation.
     No recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, against any incorporator, subscriber to the capital shares or capital stock, director, member, stockholder, officer, director or employee of the Company or the Trustee or of any predecessor or successor of the Company or the Trustee with respect to the Company’s obligations on the Securities or the obligations of the Company or the Trustee under this Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith.
     SECTION 116. Force Majeure.
     Subject to Section 601, in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
     SECTION 117. Waiver of Jury Trial.
     EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
     SECTION 201. Forms Generally.
     The Securities of each series shall be in fully registered form and in substantially such form or forms (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the director(s) or officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form as permitted by Section 304, the form thereof shall be established as provided in the preceding sentence. A copy of the Board Resolution establishing the form or forms of Securities of any series (or any such temporary global Security) shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or any such temporary global Security).
     The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the director(s) or officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
     SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
 
     The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
     “This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

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  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
as Trustee
 
 
  By:      
    Authorized Signatory”   
       
 
     SECTION 203. Securities in Global Form.
     If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in such Security or in a Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in such Security or in the applicable Company Order. With respect to the Securities of any series that are represented by a Security in global form, the Company authorizes the execution and delivery by the Trustee of a letter of representations or other similar agreement or instrument in the form customarily provided for by the Depositary appointed with respect to such global Security. Any Security in global form may be deposited with the Depositary or its nominee, or may remain in the custody of the Security Custodian therefor pursuant to an agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 103 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
     Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Security issued in global form held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Security Custodian as its custodian, or under such global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Security Custodian and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the registered holder of a Security of any series issued in global form may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder of such series is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities of such series and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Security Custodian or any agent of the Company or the Security Custodian, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or shall impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of any Security.
     Notwithstanding Section 305, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent global Security are entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered from time to time in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 103 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of other definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged; provided , however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of that series is to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date.

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     Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent global Security marked to evidence the partial exchange shall be returned by the Trustee to the Depositary or such other depositary referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a definitive Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
     Notwithstanding Section 305, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, transfers of a Security issued in global form shall be limited to transfers of such global Security in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Security issued in global form may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. Securities of any series shall be transferred to all beneficial owners of a global Security of such series in exchange for their beneficial interests in that global Security if, and only if, either (1) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the global Security of such series or at any time the Depositary ceases to be registered under the Exchange Act, (2) an Event of Default, or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, has occurred with respect to such series and is continuing and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depositary or the Trustee to issue Securities of such series in lieu of all or a portion of that global Security (in which case the Company shall deliver Securities of such series within 30 days of such request) or (3) the Company determines in its sole discretion that a global Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form.
     In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest in a global Security of any series to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 203, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the global Security of that series in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the global Security of that series to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities of that series shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Securities of the same series of like tenor and amount.
     In connection with the transfer of all the beneficial interests in a global Security of any series to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 203, the global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series of authorized denominations.
     Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, Securities of any series by the Depositary, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to such Securities. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the related global Security Holder or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from such global Security Holder or the Depositary for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Securities to be issued).
     The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 103 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.
     Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 201 and 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

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     Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall treat a Person as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security as shall be specified in a written statement, if any, of the Holder of such global Security which is produced to the Security Registrar by such Holder.
     Global Securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Permanent global Securities will be issued in definitive form.
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
     SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
     The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
     The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,
  (1)   the title of the Securities of such series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
 
  (2)   any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 203, 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107);
 
  (3)   whether Securities of such series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of such series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Sections 203 or 305, and the Depositary for any global Security or Securities of such series;
 
  (4)   the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary global Security of such series on any Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;
 
  (5)   the date or dates on which the principal or premium (if any) of the Securities of such series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
 
  (6)   the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and, if other than as set forth in Section 101, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date;
 
  (7)   the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series shall be payable;
 
  (8)   the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of such series may be

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      redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option, and the manner in which the Company must exercise any such option, if different from those set forth herein;
 
  (9)   the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of such series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of such series shall be redeemed or purchased in whole or in part pursuant to such obligation;
 
  (10)   the denomination in which any Securities of that series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
 
  (11)   the currency or currencies (including composite currencies), if other than Dollars, or the form, including equity securities, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants or any other securities or property of the Company or any other Person, in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series shall be payable;
 
  (12)   if the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies (including composite currencies) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;
 
  (13)   if the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series may be determined with reference to any commodities, currencies or indices, values, rates or prices or any other index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
 
  (14)   if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;
 
  (15)   any additional means of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series pursuant to Section 401, any additional conditions to discharge pursuant to Section 401 or 403 and the application, if any, of Section 403;
 
  (16)   any deletions or modifications of or additions to the definitions set forth in Section 101, Events of Default set forth in Section 501 or covenants of the Company set forth in Article Ten pertaining to the Securities of such series;
 
  (17)   if the Securities of such series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants or any other securities or property of the Company or any other Person, at the option of the Company or the Holder or upon the occurrence of any condition or event, the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange;
 
  (18)   whether any of such Securities will be subject to certain optional interest rate reset provisions;
 
  (19)   the additions or changes, if any, to the Indenture with respect to such Securities as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of such Securities in bearer form, registered or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; and

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  (20)   any other terms of such series.
     All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
     At the option of the Company, interest on the Securities of any series that bears interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of any Holder as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
     If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action together with such Board Resolution shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
     SECTION 302. Denominations.
     The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, any Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars shall be issuable in denominations that are the equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such currency (“Exchange Rate”), as such rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on the applicable issue date for such Securities, of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
     SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
     The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by a director, its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Treasurer or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these persons on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
     Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper director(s) or officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such director position or offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such position or offices at the date of such Securities.
     At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.
     If the form or terms of the Securities of a series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or any other method permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that,
  (a)   the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
 
  (b)   the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
 
  (c)   such Securities when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal,

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      valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement is subject to the effect of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
     Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
     No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 103 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
     SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.
     Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the director(s) or officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
     Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and deliver a Company Order requesting the Trustee to authenticate and deliver and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
     All Outstanding temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.
     SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
     The Company shall cause to be kept for each series of Securities at one of the offices or agencies maintained pursuant to Section 1002 a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities of such series. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

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     Except as set forth in Section 203 or as may be provided pursuant to Section 301, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute and deliver a Company Order requesting the Trustee to authenticate and deliver and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.
     At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
     All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
     Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
     No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchange pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.
     The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
     SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
     If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and deliver a Company Order requesting the Trustee to authenticate and deliver and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
     If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon the Company’s request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
     In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
     Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 306, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fee and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

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     Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 306 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
     The provisions of this Section 306 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
     SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
     Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed or delivered to the address of any Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
     Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
  (1)   The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause (1) provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
 
  (2)   The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause (2), such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

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     Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307, each Security delivered under this Indenture, upon registration of transfer of, in exchange for or in lieu of, any other Security, shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
     SECTION 308. Person Deemed Owners.
     Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium (if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
     SECTION 309. Cancellation.
     All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 309, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures, unless the Trustee is otherwise directed by a Company Order.
     SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.
     Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year comprising twelve 30-day months.
     SECTION 311. CUSIP Numbers.
     The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
     SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
     This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to Securities of a series, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series, when
  (1)   either
  (A)   all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter

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      repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
 
  (B)   with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of Outstanding Securities for that purpose, money or U.S. Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest in such amounts and at such times as will, together with the income to accrue thereon, without consideration of any reinvestment thereof, be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities to the Stated Maturity or any Redemption Date contemplated by the penultimate paragraph of this Section 401, as the case may be; or
 
  (C)   the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge as is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to the Securities of such series;
  (2)   the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series;
 
  (3)   the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 301 to be applicable to the discharge of Securities of such series pursuant to this Section 401;
 
  (4)   the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series have been complied with;
 
  (5)   if the conditions set forth in Section 401(1)(A) have not been satisfied, and unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, satisfaction and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such deposit, satisfaction and discharge had not occurred; and
 
  (6)   no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such issue shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
     For the purposes of this Indenture, “U.S. Government Obligations” means direct noncallable obligations of, or noncallable obligations the payment of principal of and interest on which is guaranteed by, the United States of America, or to the payment of which obligations or guarantees the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged, or beneficial interests in a trust the corpus of which consists exclusively of money or such obligations or a combination thereof.
     If any Outstanding Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory sinking fund requirement, the trust agreement referred to in subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section 401 shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

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     Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series pursuant to this Section 401, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, except for a discharge pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Company under Sections 305, 306, 404, 1001 and 1002 and the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
     SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.
     Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such Securities for the payment of which such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
     SECTION 403. Discharge of Liability on Securities of Any Series.
     If this Section 403 is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to Securities of any series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Securities of such series, the obligation of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities of such series to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series shall cease, terminate and be completely discharged, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction and discharge, when
  (1)   the Company has complied with the provisions of Section 401 of this Indenture (other than any additional conditions specified pursuant to Sections 301 and 401(3) and except that the Opinion of Counsel referred to in Section 401(5) shall state that it is based on a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service or other change since the date hereof under applicable Federal income tax law) with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series,
 
  (2)   the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Request requesting such satisfaction and discharge,
 
  (3)   the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 301 to be applicable to the discharge of Securities of such series pursuant to this Section 403, and
 
  (4)   the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the discharge of the indebtedness on the Outstanding Securities of such series have been complied with.
     Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 403 with respect to all the Outstanding Securities of any series, the terms and conditions of such series, including the terms and conditions with respect thereto set forth in this Indenture, shall no longer be binding upon, or applicable to, the Company; provided that, the Company shall not be discharged from any payment obligations in respect of Securities of such series which are deemed not to be Outstanding under clause (iii) of the definition thereof if such obligations continue to be valid obligations of the Company under applicable law or pursuant to Section 305 or 306.
     SECTION 404. Reinstatement.
     If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with respect to Securities of any series in accordance with Section 401 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 401 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government

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Obligations in accordance with Section 401; provided , however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
     SECTION 501. Events of Default.
     “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series:
  (1)   default in the payment of any interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of that series when such interest or Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
 
  (2)   default in the payment of the principal of or premium (if any) on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
 
  (3)   default in the deposit of any mandatory sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 60 days; or
 
  (4)   default in the performance or breach of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 501 specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
 
  (5)   the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestration or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
 
  (6)   the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it, of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking

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      possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
 
  (7)   any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 501, if the principal of, premium (if any) or any interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security is payable in a currency or currencies (including a composite currency) other than Dollars and such currency or currencies are not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company (a “Conversion Event”), the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar equivalent of the amount payable in such other currency, as determined by the Company by reference to the Exchange Rate, as such Exchange Rate is certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 501, any payment made under such circumstances in Dollars where the required payment is in a currency other than Dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.
     Promptly after the occurrence of a Conversion Event with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Trustee; and the Trustee, promptly after receipt of such notice, shall give notice thereof in the manner provided in Section 107 to the Holders of such series. Promptly after the making of any payment in Dollars as a result of a Conversion Event with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 107 to the Holders of such series, setting forth the applicable Exchange Rate and describing the calculation of such payments.
     SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
     If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of (i) the series affected by such default (in the case of an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Section 501 or an Event of Default described in clause (4) of Section 501 relating to a covenant applicable only to such series) or (ii) all series of Securities (in the case of an Event of Default described in clause (4) of Section 501 that is applicable to all series of Securities) may declare the principal amount (or, if any such Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued interest on of all of the Securities of the series affected by such default or all series, as the case may be, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such amount shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 shall occur, the principal amount of and accrued interest on the Outstanding Securities of all series ipso facto shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
     At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article Five, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
  (1)   the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
  (A)   all overdue interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, all Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be),
 
  (B)   the principal of or premium (if any) on any Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration

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      and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the Securities’ Yield to Maturity),
  (C)   to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest and any Additional Amounts at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the Securities’ Yield to Maturity), and
 
  (D)   all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and
  (2)   all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
     SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
     The Company covenants that if
  (1)   default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of any series when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable and such default continues in excess of any applicable grace period, or
 
  (2)   default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium (if any) on any Security at the Maturity thereof, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal, premium (if any) and on any overdue interest or Additional Amounts, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the Securities’ Yield to Maturity), and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.
     If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
     If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
     SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
     In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee

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(irrespective of whether the principal (or lesser amount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal of, premium (if any), interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
  (i)   to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or lesser amount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) (and premium, if any) and interest and any Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
 
  (ii)   to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.
     Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceedings; provided , however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official.
     SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons.
     All rights of action and claim under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto; any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust; after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607, any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
     SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.
     Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article Five shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities, upon presentation of the Securities, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
     FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
     SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal of, premium (if any), interest on and Additional Amounts, respectively; and
     THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.
     To the fullest extent allowed under applicable law, if for the purpose of obtaining judgment against the Company in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) or

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interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the Business Day in The City of New York next preceding that on which final judgment is given. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any shortfall nor shall it benefit from any windfall in payments to Holders of Securities under this Section 506 caused by a change in exchange rates between the time the amount of a judgment against it is calculated as above and the time the Trustee converts the Judgment Currency into the Required Currency to make payments under this Section 506 to Holders of Securities, but payment of such judgment shall discharge all amounts owed by the Company on the claim or claims underlying such judgment.
     SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.
     Subject to Section 508, no Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
  (1)   an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing and such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of such continuing Event of Default;
 
  (2)   the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
 
  (3)   such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
 
  (4)   the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
 
  (5)   no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
     SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.
     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, and such rights shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
     SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
     If the Trustee or any Holder of any Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their

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former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
     SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
     Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
     SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
     No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
     SECTION 512. Control by Holders.
     With respect to Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, relating to or arising under an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Section 501 (or clause (4) of Section 501 with respect to a covenant that is applicable only to such series), and with respect to all Securities the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, not relating to or arising under such an Event of Default, provided that in each such case
  (1)   the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would conflict with this Indenture or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, and
 
  (2)   the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
     SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.
     Subject to Sections 508 and 902, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities may on behalf of the Holders of all Securities waive any other past default hereunder and its consequences, except in each case a default
  (1)   in the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, or
 
  (2)   in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected.

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     Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
     SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs.
     All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant. The provisions of this Section 514 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, by the Trustee, by any Holder or group of Holders holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
     SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
     The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
     SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
     (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series,
  (1)   the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
 
  (2)   in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
     (b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
     (c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that

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  (1)   this clause (1) shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section 601;
 
  (2)   the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
 
  (3)   the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series or of all series, determined as provided in Section 512, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and
 
  (4)   no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
     (d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.
     SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.
     Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give notice of such Default or Event of Default known to the Trustee to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 107, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided , however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series.
     SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.
     Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
     (a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
     (b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
     (c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

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     (d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
     (e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
     (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;
     (g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
     (h) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series for which it is acting as Trustee unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on such Securities or by any Holder of such Securities and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;
     (i) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture; and
     (j) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.
     SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
     The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
     SECTION 605. May Hold Securities.
     The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
     SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust.
     Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

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     SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.
     The Company agrees
  (1)   to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
 
  (2)   except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
 
  (3)   to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and its directors, officers, employees, agents and/or representatives for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
     As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 607, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to particular Securities.
     Any expenses and compensation for any services rendered by the Trustee after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 shall constitute expenses and compensation for services of administration under all applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws.
     The provisions of this Section 607 and any lien arising hereunder shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee or the discharge of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.
     SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
     (a) If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest, as defined in this Section 608, with respect to the Securities of any series, it shall, within 90 days after ascertaining that it has such conflicting interest, either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign with respect to the Securities of that series in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.
     (b) In the event that the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 608 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall, within 10 days after the expiration of such 90-day period, transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of that series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such failure.
     (c) For the purposes of this Section 608, the term “conflicting interest” shall have the meaning specified in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and the Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series any indenture or indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding, if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act are met. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the optional provision permitted by the second sentence of Section 310(b)(9) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable.

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     SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
     There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state (or the District of Columbia) authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.
     The Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Sections 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5) of the Trust Indenture Act.
     SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
     (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article Six shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.
     (b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the resigning Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
     (c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
     (d) If at any time:
  (1)   the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608(a) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
 
  (2)   the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder of Securities, or
 
  (3)   the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
     (e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any

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particular series) and such successor Trustee or Trustees shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
     (f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
     SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
     (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
     (b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
     (c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 611, as the case may be.
     (d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article Six.

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     SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
     Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion, consolidation or transfer of substantially all the corporate trust business to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
     SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
     The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.
     SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
     The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50 million or equivalent amount expressed in a foreign currency and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state (or the District of Columbia) authority or authority of such country. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 614, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 614.
     Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 614, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
     An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 614.

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     The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 614.
     If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section 614, the Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:
     This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
         
  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
As Trustee
 
 
  By:      
         As Authenticating Agent   
     
  By:      
         Authorized Signatory   
     Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 614 to the contrary, if at any time any Authenticating Agent appointed hereunder with respect to any series of Securities shall not also be acting as the Security Registrar hereunder with respect to any series of Securities, then, in addition to all other duties of an Authenticating Agent hereunder, such Authenticating Agent shall also be obligated: (i) to furnish to the Security Registrar promptly all information necessary to enable the Security Registrar to maintain at all times an accurate and current Security Register; and (ii) prior to authenticating any Security denominated in a foreign currency, to ascertain from the Company the units of such foreign currency that are required to be determined by the Company pursuant to Section 302.
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDER’S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
     SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
     With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
  (a)   semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date relating to that series (or, if there is no Regular Record Date relating to that series, on January 1 and July 1), a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of that series as of such dates, and
 
  (b)   at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content, such list to be dated as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided , that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, the Company shall not be required to furnish or cause to be furnished such a list to the Trustee. The Company shall otherwise comply with Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
     SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
  (a)   The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of each series contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as

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      provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of each series received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. The Trustee shall otherwise comply with Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
  (b)   Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
     SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.
  (a)   Within 60 days after May 15 of each year after the execution of this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall transmit by mail all reports as required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
  (b)   A copy of each report pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 703 shall, at the time of its transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
     SECTION 704. Reports by the Company.
     The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall otherwise comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
     SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
     The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), unless:
  (1)   either (a) the Company shall be the continuing Person or (b) the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company is merged, or that acquires, by sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities and the performance of the Company’s covenants and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities;
 
  (2)   immediately after giving effect to such transaction, and treating any indebtedness that becomes indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and

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  (3)   the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with Sections 801 and 802 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
     SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted for Company.
     Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other Person or any sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of such lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
     SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
     Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
  (1)   to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or
 
  (2)   to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or otherwise secure any series of the Securities or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
 
  (3)   to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities (and, if such Event of Default is applicable to less than all series of Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable); or
 
  (4)   to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is adversely affected by such change in or elimination of such provision; or
 
  (5)   to secure the Securities; or
 
  (6)   to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 401; provided , however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or
 
  (7)   to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

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  (8)   to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or
 
  (9)   to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such other provisions as may be made shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.
     SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
     With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (acting as one class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided , however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,
  (1)   change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon, any Additional Amounts with respect thereto or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which, any Security or any premium or any interest thereon or Additional Amounts with respect thereto is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date),
 
  (2)   reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or
 
  (3)   modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 513 or Section 1006, except to increase any such percentage or to provide with respect to any particular series the right to condition the effectiveness of any supplemental indenture as to that series on the consent of the Holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series (which provision may be made pursuant to Section 301 without the consent of any Holder) or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, provided , however, that this clause (3) shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1006, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611(b) and Section 901(7).
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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     It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
     SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
     In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this Indenture or otherwise.
     SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
     Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
     SECTION 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.
     Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
     SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
     Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
     SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
     The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
     SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
     The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent) where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of Securities and this Indenture may be served. Unless otherwise designated by the Company by written notice to the Trustee, such office or agency shall be the office of the agent of the Trustee in the City of New York which, on the date hereof, is located at The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay, 7 East, New York, NY 10286, Attention Corporate Trust. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust

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Office of the Trustee and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
     The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
     SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust.
     If the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, such Paying Agent will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium (if any) or interest or any Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
     Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, the Company will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
     The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent will:
  (1)   hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
 
  (2)   give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of that series; and
 
  (3)   at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
     The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
     Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for three years after such principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities have become due and payable shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat, or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all

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liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and in such other Authorized Newspapers as the Trustee shall deem appropriate, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified herein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat, or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Company.
     SECTION 1004. Existence.
     Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.
     SECTION 1005. Statement by Officers as to Default.
     The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof so long as any Security is outstanding hereunder, an Officers’ Certificate, complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act and stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under the supervision of the signers thereof and whether or not to the best of their knowledge, based upon such review, the Company is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of its covenants and other obligations under this Indenture, and if the Company shall be in default, specifying each such default known to them and the nature and status thereof. One of the director(s) or officers signing the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 1005 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.
     For purposes of this Section 1005, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.
     SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
     The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Sections 1001 through 1005, inclusive, or any covenant added for the benefit of any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301 (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such omission (acting as one class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
     SECTION 1007. Additional Amounts.
     If the Securities of a series expressly provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series Additional Amounts as expressly provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of, or premium (if any) or interest on any Security of any series or the net proceeds received from the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section 1007 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 1007 and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
     If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear

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interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Company will pay to such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section 1007. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 1007.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
     SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.
     Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.
     SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
     Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 301, the election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least five (5) business days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
     SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.
     If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and that may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or of the principal amount of global Securities of such series.
     The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
     For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

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     SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.
     Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 107 to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.
     All notices of redemption shall state:
  (1)   the Redemption Date,
 
  (2)   the Redemption Price,
 
  (3)   if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,
 
  (4)   that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,
 
  (5)   the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,
 
  (6)   that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and
 
  (7)   the “CUSIP” number, if applicable.
     A notice of redemption as contemplated by Section 107 need not identify particular Securities to be redeemed. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
     SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
     On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
     SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
     Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (and any Additional Amounts) to the Redemption Date; provided , however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
     If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and premium (if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the Securities’ Yield to Maturity.

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     SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.
     Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and Stated Maturity, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.
     Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Company and any Affiliate of the Company may at any time purchase or otherwise acquire Securities in the open market or by private agreement. Such acquisition shall not operate as or be deemed for any purpose to be a redemption of the indebtedness represented by such Securities. Any Securities purchased or acquired by the Company may be delivered to the Trustee and, upon such delivery, the indebtedness represented thereby shall be deemed to be satisfied. Section 309 shall apply to all Securities so delivered.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
     SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.
     The provisions of this Article Twelve shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
     The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
     SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
     The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking payment shall be reduced accordingly.
     SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
     Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivery of or by crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the

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manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
     SECTION 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.
     A meeting of Holders of Securities of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article Thirteen to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.
     SECTION 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.
  (a)   The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1301, to be held at such time and at such place in Houston, Texas, in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in any other location as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 107, not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
  (b)   In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, shall have requested the Trustee for any such series to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1301, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 30 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in Houston, Texas, in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London, for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section 1302.
     SECTION 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.
     To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
     SECTION 1304. Quorum; Action.
     The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case, the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Subject to Section 1305(d), notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1302(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which

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the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly that Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum.
     Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided , however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage that is less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.
     Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section 1304 shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
     SECTION 1305. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.
  (a)   The holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 105 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 105. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 105 or other proof.
 
  (b)   The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1302(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.
 
  (c)   At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series and each proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided , however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or as a proxy.
 
  (d)   Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1302 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
     SECTION 1306. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.
     The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to such record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by

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ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that such notice was given as provided in Section 1302 and, if applicable, Section 1304. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
* * *
     This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
           
  NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
 
 
    By:      
      Alan R. Hay   
      Director   
   
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
 
 
    By:      
      Julie Hoffman-Ramos   
      Assistant Treasurer   
   

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Exhibit 4.2
 
 
 
NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
ISSUER
NOBLE CORPORATION
GUARANTOR
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
TRUSTEE
 
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
RELATING TO
7.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2014
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 21, 2008
 
 
 

 


 

          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of November 21, 2008 and relating to the Notes referred to below (this “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), by and among NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (herein called the “ Company ”), NOBLE CORPORATION, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (herein called the “ Guarantor ”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this First Supplemental Indenture have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below.
WITNESSETH:
          WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture dated as of November 21, 2008 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured senior debt securities (the “ Securities ”), the form and terms of which are to be established pursuant to Articles Two and Three of the Indenture; and
          WHEREAS, Article Nine of the Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the form and terms of the Securities of any series as permitted in Articles Two and Three of the Indenture and otherwise amending the Indenture in a manner not prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of the Securities of any series; and
          WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a series of Securities under the Indenture to be issued in an initial aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000 designated as the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “ Notes ”), in furtherance of which the Board of Directors has adopted a Board Resolution authorizing the Company to enter into this First Supplemental Indenture without the consent of the Holders of the Securities as provided for in Section 901 of the Indenture; and
          WHEREAS, the Guarantor owns, indirectly, all of the outstanding shares of the Company and has agreed to (i) fully and unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest on and all other amounts due under the Indenture and the Notes, which guarantee is provided in this First Supplemental Indenture, and (ii) be bound by certain other covenants specified herein; and
          WHEREAS, all acts necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding agreement in accordance with Article Nine of the Indenture have been duly performed and executed;
          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements herein contained, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Notes as follows:

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     Section 1. Issuance, Terms and Form of the Notes.
     1.1 Issuance of the Notes . A series of Securities is hereby created which shall be designated as the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes created hereby that may be authenticated and delivered under this First Supplemental Indenture shall initially be $250,000,000, subject to the Company’s right to issue additional Notes from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
     1.2 Terms of the Notes . The Notes shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants of the Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture.
     1.3 Form of the Notes . The Notes shall be executed, authenticated and delivered substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , the terms of which are incorporated in this First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes.
     1.4 Depositary . The Notes shall be issued in global form, except as provided in the Indenture. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to acts as Depositary with respect to the Notes.
     Section 2. Amendments to the Indenture Relating to the Notes.
     2.1 Amendments to Article One of the Indenture (Definitions) . Article One of the Indenture is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes as follows:
          (a) by adding thereto the following new definitions in their appropriate alphabetical order:
     “ Attributable Indebtedness ,” when used with respect to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction, means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first day such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or the net amount determined assuming no such termination.
     “ Capitalized Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
     “ Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the total amount of assets (less applicable

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reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting (1) all current liabilities (excluding the amount of those that are by their terms extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than 12 months after the date as of which the amount is being determined and current maturities of long-term debt) and (2) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangible assets, all as set forth on the most recent quarterly balance sheet of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries and determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
     “ Funded Indebtedness ” means all Indebtedness (including Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit, letter of credit or working capital facility) that by its terms matures on, or that is renewable at the option of any obligor thereon to, a date more than one year after the date on which such Indebtedness is originally incurred.
     “ Guarantee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
     “ Guarantor ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
     “ Guarantor Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Guarantor or any duly authorized committee of that board.
     “ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), other than standby letters of credit, performance bonds and other obligations issued by or for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of business, to the extent not drawn or, to the extent drawn, if such drawing is reimbursed not later than the third Business Day following demand for reimbursement, (iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property or services, except trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, (v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (provided that if the obligations so secured have not been assumed in full by such Person or are not otherwise such Person’s legal liability in full, then such obligations shall be deemed to be in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the lesser of (1) the full amount of such obligations and (2) the fair market value of such assets, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a resolution of such board of directors, and (b) the amount of obligations as have been assumed by such Person or that are otherwise such Person’s legal liability), and (vii) all Indebtedness of others (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business) guaranteed by such Person to the extent of such guarantee.
     “ Joint Venture ” means any partnership, corporation or other entity in which up to and including 50% of the partnership interests, outstanding voting stock or other equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Guarantor and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

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     “ Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge or security interest. For purposes of the Indenture, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capitalized Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
     “ Make-Whole Premium ” with respect to any Note (or portion of a Note) to be redeemed shall be equal to the excess, if any, of:
     (i) the sum of the present values, calculated as of the Redemption Date, of:
          (A) each interest payment that, but for the redemption, would have been payable on the Note (or its portion) being redeemed on each Interest Payment Date occurring after the Redemption Date (excluding any accrued interest for the period before the Redemption Date); and
          (B) the principal amount that, but for the redemption, would have been payable at the final maturity of the Note (or its portion) being redeemed;
over
     (ii) the principal amount of the Note (or its portion) being redeemed.
     The present values of interest and principal payments referred to in clause (i) above will be determined in accordance with generally accepted principles of financial analysis. Those present values will be calculated by discounting the amount of each payment of interest or principal from the date that each payment would have been payable, but for the redemption, to the Redemption Date at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Yield plus 50 basis points.
     The Make-Whole Premium will be calculated by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company, provided that if the Company fails to make such appointment at least 45 Business Days prior to the Redemption Date, or if the institution so appointed is unwilling or unable to make the calculation, such calculation will be made by Goldman, Sachs & Co. or, if that firm is unwilling or unable to make the calculation, by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee (in any such case, the “ Independent Investment Banker ”).
     “ Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor in respect of which (a) the recourse of the holder of such Indebtedness, whether direct or indirect and whether contingent or otherwise, is effectively limited to (i) Liens on specified assets and (ii) in respect of Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, Liens on assets of the Subsidiary acquired after the date of original issuance of the Notes, and with respect to such Indebtedness of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, neither the Guarantor nor any Subsidiary of the Guarantor (other than the issuer of such Indebtedness) provides any credit support or is otherwise liable or obligated and (b) the occurrence of any event, or the existence of any condition under any agreement or instrument

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relating to such Indebtedness, shall not at any time have the effect of accelerating, or permitting the acceleration of, the maturity of any other Indebtedness of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise permitting any such other Indebtedness to be declared due and payable, or to be required to be prepaid, purchased or redeemed, prior to the stated maturity thereof.
     “ Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Guarantor, whether outstanding on the issue date of the Notes or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular Indebtedness, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee.
     “ Permitted Liens ” means (i) Liens existing on the date of original issuance of the Notes; (ii) Liens on property or assets of, or any shares of stock of, or other equity interests in, or indebtedness of, any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Guarantor or at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of a Person to the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor; (iii) Liens in favor of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) Liens in favor of governmental bodies to secure progress or advance payments; (v) Liens securing industrial revenue or pollution control bonds or similar indebtedness; (vi) Liens on property securing (a) all or any portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing, altering, improving or repairing any property or assets, real or personal, or improvements used or to be used in connection with such property or (b) Indebtedness incurred by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor prior to or within one year after the later of the acquisition, the completion of construction, alteration, improvement or repair or the commencement of commercial operation thereof, which Indebtedness is incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or construction or improvements thereon; (vii) statutory liens or landlords’, carriers’, warehouseman’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (viii) Liens on current assets of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor securing Indebtedness of the Guarantor or such Subsidiary, respectively; (ix) Liens on the stock, partnership or other equity interest of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor in any Joint Venture or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor that owns an equity interest in such Joint Venture to secure Indebtedness, provided the amount of such Indebtedness is contributed and/or advanced solely to such Joint Venture; (x) Liens under workers compensation or similar legislation; (xi) Liens in connection with legal proceedings or securing tax assessments, which in each case are being contested in good faith; (xii) good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts or Liens; (xiii) deposits made in connection with maintaining self-insurance, to obtain the benefits of laws, regulations or arrangements relating to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, social security or similar matters or to secure surety, appeal or customs bonds; and (xiv) any extensions, substitutions, replacements or renewals in whole or in part of a Lien enumerated in clauses (i) through (xiii) above.
     “ Principal Property ” means any jackup, semisubmersible, drillship, submersible or other mobile offshore drilling unit, or integral portion thereof, owned or leased by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor and used for drilling offshore oil and gas wells, which, in the

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opinion of the Guarantor Board of Directors, is of material importance to the business of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, but no such jackup, semisubmersible, drillship, submersible or other mobile offshore drilling unit, or portion thereof, shall be deemed of material importance if its net book value (after deducting accumulated depreciation) is less than 2.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries.
     “ Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means any arrangement with any Person pursuant to which the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor leases any Principal Property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Guarantor or the Subsidiary to such Person, other than (i) temporary leases for a term, including renewals at the option of the lessee, of not more than five years, (ii) leases between the Guarantor and a Subsidiary of the Guarantor or between Subsidiaries of the Guarantor, or (iii) leases of Principal Property executed by the time of, or within 12 months after the later of, the acquisition, the completion of construction, alteration, improvement or repair or the commencement of commercial operation of the Principal Property.
     “ Tax Additional Amounts ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
     “ Taxing Jurisdiction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
     “ Treasury Yield ” means a rate of interest per annum equal to the weekly average yield to maturity of United States Treasury Notes that have a constant maturity that corresponds to the remaining terms to maturity of the Notes, calculated to the nearest 1/12th of a year (the “ Remaining Term ”). The Treasury Yield will be determined as of the third Business Day immediately before the applicable Redemption Date.
     The weekly average yields of United States Treasury Notes will be determined by referring to the most recent statistical release published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “H.15(519) Selected Interest Rates” or any successor release (the “ H.15 Statistical Release ”). If the H.15 Statistical Release contains a weekly average yield for United States Treasury Notes having a constant maturity that is the same as the Remaining Term, then the Treasury Yield will be equal to that weekly average yield. In all other cases, the Treasury Yield will be calculated by interpolation, on a straight-line basis, between the weekly average yields on the United States Treasury Notes that have a constant maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining Term and the United States Treasury Notes that have a constant maturity closest to and less than the Remaining Term (in each case as set forth in the H.15 Statistical Release). Any weekly average yields as calculated by interpolation will be rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1% with any figure of 1/200% or above being rounded upward. If weekly average yields for United States Treasury Notes are not available in the H.15 Statistical Release or otherwise, then the Treasury Yield will be calculated by interpolation of comparable rates selected by the Independent Investment Banker.
     “ Withholding Tax ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
          (b) for purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture only, by adding the following definitions:
      “Officers’ Certificate”, when used with respect to the Guarantor, means a certificate signed by (i) the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and (ii) the Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Controller or Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee, which certificate shall be in compliance with Section 103 hereof.

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     “ Redemption Price ” shall be the price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date), plus a Make-Whole Premium, if any is required to be paid. The Redemption Price will never be less than 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date.
     “ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to the Guarantor at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Guarantor in the Guarantor’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (i) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (ii) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled, by the Guarantor or one or more Subsidiaries of the Guarantor.
          2.2 Amendments to Article Three of the Indenture (Tax Additional Amounts). Article Three is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes by adding the following section as Section 312:
          SECTION 312. Tax Additional Amounts.
     The Company shall pay any amounts due with respect to the payments on the Notes without deduction or withholding for any and all present and future withholding taxes, levies, imposts and charges (each, a “ Withholding Tax ”) imposed by or for the account of the Cayman Islands or any other jurisdiction in which the Company is resident for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing authority of such jurisdiction (the “ Taxing Jurisdiction ”), unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. If such deduction or withholding is at any time required, the Company will (subject to compliance by such Holder with any relevant administrative requirements) pay each Holder additional amounts (“ Tax Additional Amounts ”) as will result in such Holder’s receipt of such amounts as it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been required.
     If the Taxing Jurisdiction requires the Company to deduct or withhold any Withholding Tax, the Company will (subject to compliance by a Holder with any relevant administrative requirements) pay such Tax Additional Amounts in respect of principal amount, Redemption Price and interest (if any) in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Indenture; provided , however, that the foregoing shall not apply to:
     (a) any Withholding Tax that would not be payable or due but for the fact that (1) the Holder of a Note (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary of, member

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or shareholder of, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) is a domiciliary, national or resident of, or engaging in business or maintaining a permanent establishment or being physically present in, the Taxing Jurisdiction or otherwise having some present or former connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than the holding or ownership of the Note or the collection of principal amount, Redemption Price and interest (if any), in accordance with the terms of the Note and the Indenture or the enforcement of the Note or (2) where presentation is required, the Note was presented more than 30 days after the date such payment became due or was provided for, whichever is later;
     (b) any Withholding Tax attributable to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise, personal property or similar tax, levy, impost or charge;
     (c) any Withholding Tax attributable to any tax, levy, impost or charge that is payable otherwise than by withholding from payment of principal amount, Redemption Price and interest (if any);
     (d) any Withholding Tax that would not have been imposed but for the failure to comply with certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connections with the relevant tax authority of the Holder or beneficial owner of the Senior Note, if this compliance is required by statute or by regulation as a precondition to relief or exemption from such Withholding Tax;
     (e) to the extent a Holder of a Note is entitled to a refund or credit in the Taxing Jurisdiction of amounts required to be withheld by such Taxing Jurisdiction; or
     (f) any combination of the instances described in (a) through (e).
     With respect to clause (e), above, in the absence of evidence satisfactory to the Company, the Company may conclusively presume that a Holder of a Note is entitled to a refund or credit of all amounts required to be withheld. The Company shall not be required to pay any Tax Additional Amounts to any Holder of a Note who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the Note to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner thereof, would not have been entitled to the payment of such Tax Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of the Note.
     Tax Additional Amounts shall be treated as Additional Amounts for purposes of the Indenture. All references in the Indenture or the Notes to “interest” shall include (without duplication) any Tax Additional Amounts due with respect thereto.
     2.3 Amendments to Article Seven of the Indenture (Reports by the Company) . Article Seven of the Indenture is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes by amending and restating in its entirety Section 704 as follows:

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     SECTION 704. Reports by the Company.
     The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall otherwise comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, any obligation of the Company to file reports with the Trustee pursuant to the prior sentence shall be deemed to be satisfied for so long as Guarantor (or any other person that is a successor to Guarantor’s reporting obligations to the Commission) shall file with the Trustee within the time period provided in the prior sentence copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that Guarantor (or any other person that is a successor to Guarantor’s reporting obligations to the Commission) may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 12 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such annual reports, information, documents and other reports contain such information relating to the Company as is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
     2.4 Amendments to Article Eight of the Indenture (Consolidation, Amalgamation, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease) . Article Eight of the Indenture is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes by adding thereto the following new Sections 803 and 804:
     SECTION 803. Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
     The Guarantor shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (other than a direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor), unless:
(1)   either (a) the Guarantor shall be the continuing Person or (b) the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Guarantor is merged, or that acquires, by sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor, shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, the Guarantee, and the performance of the Guarantor’s covenants and obligations under this Indenture and the Guarantee;
 
(2)   immediately after giving effect to such transaction, and treating any indebtedness that becomes indebtedness of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and

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(3)   the Guarantor has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with Sections 803 and 804 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
     SECTION 804. Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor.
     Upon any consolidation or amalgamation the Guarantor with or merger by the Guarantor into any other Person or any sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor in accordance with Section 803, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Guarantor is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Guarantor herein and thereafter, except in the case of such lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Guarantee.
     2.5 Amendments to Article Ten of the Indenture (Covenants) . Article Ten of the Indenture is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes by (a) amending and restating in their entirety Sections 1004 through 1006 as set forth below, and (b) adding thereto the following new Sections 1008 and 1009:
     SECTION 1004. Existence.
     Subject to Article Eight, each of the Company and the Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.
     SECTION 1005. Statement by Officers as to Default.
     Each of the Company and the Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the date hereof so long as any Security is outstanding hereunder, an Officers’ Certificate, complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act and stating that a review of the activities of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under the supervision of the signers thereof and whether or not to the best of their knowledge, based upon such review, the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of its covenants and other obligations under this Indenture, and if the Company or Guarantor shall be in default, specifying each such default known to them and the nature and status thereof. One of the officers signing the Officers’ Certificate on behalf of the Guarantor delivered pursuant to this Section 1005 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Guarantor.
     For purposes of this Section 1005, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.

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     SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
     The Company and the Guarantor may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Sections 1001 through 1005 and 1007 through 1009, inclusive, or any covenant added for the benefit of any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301 (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such omission (acting as one class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
     SECTION 1008. Limitations on Liens.
     The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by any Lien upon any Principal Property or any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor that owns or leases a Principal Property (whether such Principal Property, shares of stock or indebtedness are now owned or hereafter acquired) without making effective provision whereby the Notes (together with, if the Guarantor shall so determine, any other Indebtedness or other obligation) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or, at the option of the Guarantor, prior to) the Indebtedness so secured for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured. The foregoing restrictions do not, however, apply to Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries may, without securing the Notes, issue, assume or guarantee secured Indebtedness that would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions in an aggregate principal amount that, together with all other such Indebtedness of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries that would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions (including Indebtedness permitted to be secured under clause (i) under the definition of Permitted Liens but excluding Indebtedness permitted to be secured under clauses (ii) through (xiv) thereunder) and the aggregate amount of Attributable Indebtedness deemed outstanding with respect to Sale/Leaseback Transactions (other than those in connection with which the Guarantor has voluntarily retired any of the Notes, any Pari Passu Indebtedness or any Funded Indebtedness pursuant to clause (c) of Section 1009 hereof), does not at any one time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
     SECTION 1009. Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions.
     The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with any Person (other than the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor) unless: (a) the Guarantor or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness in a principal amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction secured by a Lien on the property subject to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 1008 hereof without equally and ratably securing the Notes pursuant to such

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covenant; (b) after the date of first issuance of the Notes and within a period commencing nine months prior to the consummation of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and ending nine months after the consummation thereof, the Guarantor or such Subsidiary shall have expended for property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries an amount equal to all or a portion of the net proceeds of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and the Guarantor shall have elected to designate such amount as a credit against such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (with any such amount not being so designated to be applied as set forth in clause (c) below or as otherwise permitted); or (c) the Company or the Guarantor, during the nine-month period after the effective date of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction, shall have applied to either (i) the voluntary defeasance or retirement of any Notes, any Pari Passu Indebtedness or any Funded Indebtedness or (ii) the acquisition of one or more Principal Properties at fair value, an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of the sale or transfer of the property leased in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and the fair value, as determined by the Guarantor Board of Directors, of such property as of the time of entering into such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (in either case adjusted to reflect the remaining term of the lease and any amount expended by the Guarantor as set forth in clause (b) above), less an amount equal to the sum of the principal amount of Notes, Pari Passu Indebtedness and Funded Indebtedness voluntarily defeased or retired by the Company or the Guarantor plus any amount expended to acquire any Principal Properties at fair value, within such nine-month period and not designated as a credit against any other Sale/Leaseback Transaction entered into by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor during such period.
     2.6 Amendments to Article Five of the Indenture (Events of Default) . Article Five of the Indenture is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes by
      (a) amending and restating in their entirety clauses (4), (5) and (6) as set forth below.
     (4) default in the performance or breach of any covenant of the Company or of the Guarantor in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 501 specifically dealt with or that has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than the Notes), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, by the Trustee or to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
     (5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or the Guarantor a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or the Guarantor under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian,

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receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestration or other similar official of the Company or the Guarantor or of any substantial part of their respective property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of their respective affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
     (6) the commencement by the Company or the Guarantor of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or the Guarantor to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or the Guarantor, or the filing by the Company or the Guarantor, of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by the Company or the Guarantor to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or the Guarantor or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by the Company or the Guarantor of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company or the Guarantor in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
and (b) adding immediately after clause (7) the following new clauses (8) and (9), which shall constitute additional Events of Default with respect to the Notes as contemplated by clause (7) of Article Five:
     (8) the Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (except in accordance with the terms of Section 804), or the Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Guarantee; or
     (9) default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) by either the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of either of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor resulting in the acceleration of such Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness), or any default in payment of such Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (after expiration of any applicable grace periods and presentation of any debt instruments, if required), if the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) that has been so accelerated and with respect to which there has been such a default in payment shall exceed $25,000,000 and there has been a failure to obtain rescission or annulment of all such accelerations or to discharge all such defaulted indebtedness within 20 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the Indenture; or
     2.7 Amendments to Article Eleven of the Indenture (Redemption of Securities) . The Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Company as specified in the form of Note included in Exhibit A hereto. Article Eleven of the Indenture is hereby amended in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes and only in respect of, and applicable to, the Notes by amending and restating in their entirety Sections 1105 and 1106 as set forth below:

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     SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
     On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in a trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all the Notes that are to be redeemed on that date.
     SECTION 1106. Notes Payable on Redemption Date.
     Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Notes so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Notes shall cease to accrue interest. Upon surrender of any such Note for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Notes shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price.
     If any Notes called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price thereof shall accrue interest at the rate of 5.875% per annum.
     2.8 Amendments to Section 902 of the Indenture . Section 902 of the Indenture is amended by adding thereto, in respect of the Notes only, the following new clause (4):
     (4) release the Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee or the Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
     Section 3. Agreement to Guarantee . In addition to the other covenants and agreements of Guarantor in this First Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:
          (a) Subject to Subsection 3(b) below, the Guarantor (or any successor person pursuant to the applicable provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees (such guarantee being the “ Guarantee ”) to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Indenture and the Notes thereunder, that: (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes promptly will be paid in full when due, whether at the Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes, if lawful, and all other payment obligations of the Company to the Holders and the Trustee under the Indenture and the Notes thereunder will be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes thereunder, and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other payment obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due by the Company of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full and unconditional, irrespective of

14


 

the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Indenture or the Notes thereunder, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions of the Indenture or the Notes thereunder, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives presentment, demand of payment, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the Indenture.
          (b) The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the Guarantee or the Indenture; provided , however , that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Notes issued under the Indenture shall have been paid in full.
     (c) The Guarantor will, with respect to the Guarantee, pay Tax Additional Amounts, subject to the requirements and limitations in Section 312, with respect to any Withholding Tax imposed by or for the account of any Taxing Jurisdiction with respect to any payments made under the Guarantee.
     Section 4. Execution and Delivery of Guarantee . To evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 3, the Company and the Guarantor hereby agree that a notation of such Guarantee shall be endorsed on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, that such notation of such Guarantee shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, and shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by an officer thereof.
     The Guarantor hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 3 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of the Guarantee.
     Section 5. Limitation on Individual Liability . No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this First Supplemental Indenture or the Guarantee, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, member, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Guarantor, the Company or any successor Person, either directly or through the Guarantor or the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this First Supplemental Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, members, shareholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Guarantor, the Company or any successor Person, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Guarantee or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, member, shareholder, officer or director, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Guarantee or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this First Supplemental Indenture and the issuance of the Guarantee.

15


 

     Section 6. Miscellaneous .
     6.1 The Trustee . The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee shall not assume responsibility for, or be liable in respect of, the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to, and shall not be liable or responsible for, the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture.
     6.2 Limited Effect . Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the provisions, covenants, terms and conditions of the Indenture are ratified and confirmed, and shall remain in full force.
     6.3 Counterparts . This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed by one or more parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
      6.4 Designation of Agent for Service . The Company hereby designates the Guarantor as its agent for service of process in the United States and agrees that service of process with respect to any legal claim arising under the Indenture or the Notes may be effected by service upon the Corporate Secretary or other officer of the Guarantor at its principal office in the United States. The Company will at all times keep such a designated agent for service in the United States and will notify the trustee of any change thereof.
     6.5 Governing Law . THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE.
[ Signature Page Follows ]

16


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
             
    NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED    
 
           
 
  By:        
 
     
 
     Name: Alan R. Hay
   
 
           Title: Director    
 
           
    NOBLE CORPORATION    
 
           
 
  By:        
 
     
 
     Name: David W. Williams
   
 
           Title: Chairman of the Board, Chief    
 
                     Executive Officer and President    
 
           
    THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST    
    COMPANY, N.A.    
 
           
 
  By:        
 
     
 
     Name: Julie Hoffman-Ramos
   
 
           Title: Assistant Treasurer    

17


 

EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF NOTE]
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“ DTC ”), TO ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
7.375% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2014
CUSIP No. 65504L AA5                                                $
Issue Date: ________
     Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the “Company”), promises to pay to                  or its registered assigns, the principal amount of                  ($           ) on March 15, 2014. This Note shall bear interest as specified on the reverse side of this Note. Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the reverse side of this Note.

1


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
             
    NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED    
 
           
 
  By:        
 
     
 
Name:
   
 
      Title:    

2


 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
     This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:                         
             
    THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST    
    COMPANY, N.A.    
 
           
 
  By:        
 
  Name:  
 
   
 
  Title:        

3


 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF THE NOTE]
7.375% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2014
     1.  Interest . Commencing November 21, 2008, interest on this Note will accrue at the rate of 7.375% per annum and will be payable in cash semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing March 15, 2009, to Holders of record on the close of business on the immediately preceding March 1 and September 1.
     2.  Method of Payment . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, payments in respect of the Notes shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City and State of New York. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
     3.  Paying Agent and Security Registrar . Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”), will act as Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any paying agent or security registrar without notice, other than notice to the Trustee. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar.
     4.  Indenture . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between the Company, the Trustee and Noble Corporation, as Guarantor (collectively, the “ Indenture ”). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act of 1939 ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a statement of those terms.
     The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company, initially limited to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount, subject to the Company’s ability to issue additional Notes as provided in the Indenture.
     5.  Redemption at the Option of the Company . No sinking fund is provided for the Notes. The Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Holders prior to the Redemption Date, at the Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture).
     If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Article Eleven of the Indenture and funds for the redemption of any Notes called for redemption shall have been made available on the Redemption Date referred to in such notice, such Notes will cease to bear interest on the date fixed for such redemption specified in such notice and the only right of the Holders of the Notes from and after the Redemption Date will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender of such Notes in accordance with such notice.

4


 

     6. Tax Additional Amounts . The Company and the Guarantor shall pay Tax Withholding Amounts, if any, as provided in the Indenture.
     7.  Denominations; Transfer; Exchange . The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may register the transfer of or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Security Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Notes for a period of 15 days next preceding the first mailing or publication of notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed or (b) any Notes selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Note to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.
     8.  Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.
     9.  Unclaimed Money . The Trustee and each Paying Agent shall each return to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Notes that remains unclaimed for three years. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
     10.  Amendment; Waiver . Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding and (ii) certain defaults or noncompliance with certain provisions may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article Nine of the Indenture, or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of Notes in any material respect.
     11.  Defaults and Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs relating to certain bankruptcy events as provided in the Indenture, the principal amount of and accrued interest on the Notes shall automatically become due and payable without any action of the Trustee or the Holders of Notes. Except as provided in the Indenture, if any other Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by the Holders), may declare the principal of and accrued interest on all of the Notes and the interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately.
     The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a certificate as to compliance by the Company with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture.

5


 

     12.  Trustee Dealings With the Company . Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the Indenture, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
     13.  No Recourse Against Others . A director, officer, employee, member or stockholder, as such, of the Company or the Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the payment obligations of the Guarantor under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes and the Guarantee.
     14.  Authentication . This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication on the other side of this Note.
     15.  Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance . The Notes are subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance as provided in the Indenture.
     16.  Abbreviations . Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Notes or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
     17.  Governing Law . THIS NOTE AND THE INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
     The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to: Noble Corporation, 13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

6


 

ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
(Please insert Name, Social Security Number or other Identifying Number of Assignee)
at the following address:
(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)
this Note and all rights hereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                                           Attorney to transfer this Note on the books of the Trustee, with full power of substitution in the premises.
         
Dated:
       
 
 
 
   
 
       
     
Notice: The signature(s) on this    
Assignment must correspond with the
name(s) as written upon the face of
this Note in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.
   

7


 

EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]
NOTATION OF PAYMENT GUARANTEE OF NOBLE CORPORATION
     For value received, the undersigned, Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the “ Guarantor ,” which term includes any successor person under the indenture referred to below), has unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in, and subject to the provisions of, the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), among Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the “ Company ”), the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the First Supplemental Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other payment obligations of the Company to the holders of the Notes or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between the Company and the Trustee, with respect to the Company’s 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 and the First Supplemental Indenture, and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other payment obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The payment obligations of the Guarantor to the holders of the Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to this guarantee are expressly set forth in Sections 3 through 5 of the First Supplemental Indenture, and reference is hereby made to the First Supplemental Indenture for the precise terms of this payment guarantee.

8


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Noble Corporation has caused this Notation of Payment Guarantee to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
             
    NOBLE CORPORATION,    
    as Guarantor    
 
           
 
  By:        
 
  Name:  
 
   
 
  Title:        

9

Exhibit 4.3
[FORM OF NOTE]
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“ DTC ”), TO ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
7.375% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2014
$250,000,000
CUSIP No. 65504L AA5
Issue Date: November 21, 2008
     Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the “Company”), promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or its registered assigns, the principal amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($250,000,000) on March 15, 2014. This Note shall bear interest as specified on the reverse side of this Note. Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the reverse side of this Note.
 

 


 

 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
         
  NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
 
 
  By:      
    Alan R. Hay   
    Director  
 

 


 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
     This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: November 21, 2008
         
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
 
 
  By:      
    Julie Hoffman-Ramos   
    Assistant Treasurer   

 


 

         
REVERSE SIDE OF THE NOTE
7.375% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2014
     1.  Interest . Commencing November 21, 2008, interest on this Note will accrue at the rate of 7.375% per annum and will be payable in cash semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing March 15, 2009, to Holders of record on the close of business on the immediately preceding March 1 and September 1.
     2.  Method of Payment . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, payments in respect of the Notes shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City and State of New York. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
     3.  Paying Agent and Security Registrar . Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”), will act as Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any paying agent or security registrar without notice, other than notice to the Trustee. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar.
     4.  Indenture . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2008, between the Company, the Trustee and Noble Corporation, as Guarantor (collectively, the “ Indenture ”). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act of 1939 ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a statement of those terms.
     The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company, initially limited to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount, subject to the Company’s ability to issue additional Notes as provided in the Indenture.
     5.  Redemption at the Option of the Company . No sinking fund is provided for the Notes. The Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Holders prior to the Redemption Date, at the Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture).
     If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Article Eleven of the Indenture and funds for the redemption of any Notes called for redemption shall have been made available on the Redemption Date referred to in such notice, such Notes will cease to bear interest on the date fixed for such redemption specified in such notice and the only right of the Holders of the Notes from and after the Redemption Date will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender of such Notes in accordance with such notice.

 


 

     6. Tax Additional Amounts . The Company and the Guarantor shall pay Tax Additional Amounts, if any, as provided in the Indenture.
     7.  Denominations; Transfer; Exchange . The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may register the transfer of or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Security Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Notes for a period of 15 days next preceding the first mailing or publication of notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed or (b) any Notes selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Note to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.
     8.  Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.
     9.  Unclaimed Money . The Trustee and each Paying Agent shall each return to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Notes that remains unclaimed for three years. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
     10.  Amendment; Waiver . Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding and (ii) certain defaults or noncompliance with certain provisions may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article Nine of the Indenture, or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of Notes in any material respect.
     11.  Defaults and Remedies .
     If an Event of Default occurs relating to certain bankruptcy events as provided in the Indenture, the principal amount of and accrued interest on the Notes shall automatically become due and payable without any action of the Trustee or the Holders of Notes. Except as provided in the Indenture, if any other Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by the Holders), may declare the principal of and accrued interest on all of the Notes and the interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately.
     The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a certificate as to compliance by the Company with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture.

 


 

     12.  Trustee Dealings With the Company . Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the Indenture, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
     13.  No Recourse Against Others . A director, officer, employee, member or stockholder, as such, of the Company or the Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the payment obligations of the Guarantor under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes and the Guarantee.
     14.  Authentication . This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication on the other side of this Note.
     15.  Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance . The Notes are subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance as provided in the Indenture.
     16.  Abbreviations . Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Notes or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
     17.  Governing Law . THIS NOTE AND THE INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
     The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to: Noble Corporation, 13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

 


 

  ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
 (Please insert Name, Social Security Number or other Identifying Number of Assignee) at the following address:  
  (Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)
 this Note and all rights hereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                                                                Attorney to transfer this Note on the books of the Trustee, with full power of substitution in the premises.
         
Dated:
       
 
 
 
   
 
       
     
Notice: The signature(s) on this    
Assignment must correspond with the    
name(s) as written upon the face of    
this Note in every particular, without    
alteration or enlargement or any    
change whatsoever.    

 

Exhibit 5.1
         
(BAKER BOTTS LOGO)
  ONE SHELL PLAZA
910 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS
  AUSTIN
BEIJING
DALLAS
 
  77002-4995

TEL +1 713.229.1234
  DUBAI
HONG KONG
HOUSTON
 
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November 21, 2008
066821.0238
Noble Corporation
Noble Holding International Limited
c/o Noble Corporation
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     As set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-155421) (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) by Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“ Noble ”), Noble Drilling Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Noble Drilling ”), and Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“ NHIL ”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), relating to (i) unsecured senior debt securities of Noble and unsecured subordinated debt securities of Noble, together with related guarantees; (ii) depositary shares representing preferred shares of Noble and evidenced by depositary receipts; (iii) unsecured senior debt securities of Noble Drilling and unsecured subordinated debt securities of Noble Drilling, together with related guarantees; and (iv) unsecured senior debt securities of NHIL and unsecured subordinated debt securities of NHIL, together with related guarantees (collectively, the “ NHIL Debt Securities ”), certain legal matters in connection with the Notes and the Guarantee (each as defined below) are being passed upon for you by us. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to Noble’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof (the “ Form 8-K ”).
     The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and became effective upon filing. A related prospectus dated November 18, 2008, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement dated November 18, 2008 (as so supplemented, the “ Prospectus ”) relating to the Notes (as defined below), has been filed by NHIL and Noble with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act. On November 18, 2008, Noble and NHIL entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with the underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriters ”) providing for the issuance and sale by NHIL to the Underwriters of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of NHIL’s 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “ Notes ”), to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Guarantee ”) by Noble, as guarantor (the “ Guarantor ”).
     The opinions set forth herein relate only to certain matters regarding the Notes and the Guarantee. Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands counsel to NHIL and Noble, has delivered its

 


 

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  November 21, 2008
opinion relating to certain additional matters regarding the Notes and the Guarantee, which opinion is to be filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the
Form 8-K.
     In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have examined (a) the Registration Statement, (b) the Prospectus, (c) the Indenture between NHIL and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, in the form of Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K (the “ Base Indenture ”), and (d) the First Supplemental Indenture among NHIL, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, in the form of Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8-K (the “ Supplemental Indenture ,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Notes will be issued. We have also examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to such opinions, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of NHIL and the Guarantor. In connection with such opinions, we have assumed that (i) the Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NHIL and represents a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, (ii) the Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NHIL, the Guarantor and the Trustee and represents a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, and (iii) NHIL and the Guarantor have the corporate power and authority to enter into the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, as applicable, and issue and sell the Notes and the Guarantee.
     Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Notes, when they have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly purchased and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of NHIL and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and the Guarantee will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable in each case against NHIL and the Guarantor, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof is subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity and public policy (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
     The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to matters of the law of the State of New York and applicable United States federal law.
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Form 8-K. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
     
 
  Very truly yours,
 
    /s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.

 

Exhibit 5.2
(MAPLES LOGO)
Our ref   MQV/279908/15584442v2
Noble Holding International Limited
PO Box 309
Ugland House
KY1-1104
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
21 November 2008
Dear Sirs,
Noble Holding International Limited (the “Company”)
We have acted as Cayman Islands counsel to the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of U.S.$250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Notes” ) pursuant to the Indenture (the “ Original Indenture ”) to be dated as of 21 November 2008 between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee” ), and the First Supplemental Indenture (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”) to be dated as of 21 November 2008 by and among the Company, Noble Corporation and the Trustee (the Original Indenture and First Supplemental Indenture are herein collectively referred to as the “ Indenture ”).
Under the First Supplemental Indenture, Noble Corporation (the “ Guarantor ”) will guarantee, in general terms, the principal of, premium, if any, interest on and all other payment obligations of the Company due under the Indenture and the Notes (the “Guarantee” ). The Notes will be a series of the Company’s senior debt securities, and the Guarantee will be a guarantee of the Guarantor, registered on a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-155421), as amended and supplemented (the “Registration Statement” ), filed by the Company and the Guarantor with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” ) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ).
We understand that Baker Botts L.L.P., United States counsel to the Company, will deliver its opinion relating to the Notes to be delivered under the Registration Statement.
1. Documents Reviewed
We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents:

 


 

1.1   the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the Company and issued on 6 December 2004, and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as registered on 6 December 2004;
 
1.2   the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the Guarantor and issued on 12 February 2002, and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Guarantor as registered on 12 February 2002 and amended by special resolution passed on 28 April 2005;
 
1.3   the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors of the Guarantor held on 31 October 2008 and the written resolutions of the Pricing Committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor (the “ Pricing Committee ”) dated 18 November 2008 (the “ Pricing Committee Resolutions ”) and the corporate records of the Guarantor maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands;
 
1.4   the resolutions of the board of directors of the Company adopted by written consent on 17 November 2008 and the resolutions dated 18 November 2008 of the delegee appointed by the board of directors of the Company and the corporate records of the Company maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands;
 
1.5   Certificates of Good Standing issued by the Registrar of Companies (the “Certificates of Good Standing”) of each of the Guarantor and the Company, which certificates we have assumed have been duly and validly issued by the Registrar of Companies;
 
1.6   a certificate from a director of each of the Guarantor and the Company, the form of which is annexed hereto (the “ Director’s Certificates ”);
 
1.7   the Registration Statement;
 
1.8   the Original Indenture;
 
1.9   the First Supplemental Indenture; and
 
1.10   the form of Note.
2. Assumptions
The following opinion is given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion. This opinion only relates to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion. In giving this opinion we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy of the Director’s Certificates and the Certificates of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
2.1   the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, and the Notes will be or have been authorized and duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties (other than the Company and the Guarantor, as applicable, as a matter of Cayman Islands law) in accordance with all relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands);
 
2.2   the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, and the Notes will be or are legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with their terms under laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of Cayman Islands);
 
2.3   the choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, and the Notes has, or will have, been made in good faith and would be regarded as a valid and binding selection which will be upheld by the courts of the State of New York as a matter of the laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands);

 


 

2.4   the Original Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture will be or has been duly executed and unconditionally delivered by an authorized director of the Company;
 
2.5   the First Supplemental Indenture will be or has been duly executed and unconditionally delivered by an authorized director of the Company and an Authorized Officer (as that term is defined in the Pricing Committee Resolutions) of the Guarantor;
 
2.6   copy documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals;
 
2.7   all signatures, initials and seals are genuine; and
 
2.8   there is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect the opinions hereinafter appearing. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the State of New York.
3. Opinions
Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
3.1   The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
 
3.2   The Guarantor is an exempted company duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
 
3.3   The Company has full power and authority under its Memorandum and Articles of Association to enter into, execute and perform its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, including the issue of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture.
 
3.4   The Guarantor has full power and authority under its Memorandum and Articles of Association to enter into, execute and perform its obligations under the First Supplemental Indenture, including the Guarantee.
 
3.5   The Notes have been duly authorised by the Company and when duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture and delivered against due payment therefor pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of the Registration Statement, the Notes will have been duly authorised and will be duly executed and delivered.
 
3.6   The execution, delivery and performance of the First Supplemental Indenture, including the Guarantee, has been duly authorised by and on behalf of the Guarantor and, assuming the First Supplemental Indenture has been executed and unconditionally delivered by an Authorized Officer (as defined in the Pricing Committee Resolutions) of the Guarantor, the First Supplemental Indenture, including the Guarantee, has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Guarantor.

 


 

This opinion is given as of the date shown. We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
We are aware that Baker Botts L.L.P. will rely as to matters of Cayman Islands law on this opinion in rendering its opinions to you to be filed with the Registration Statement and we authorize them to so rely.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder

 


 

Noble Holding International Limited
PO Box 309, Ugland House, KY1-1104
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
20 November 2008
To: Maples and Calder
PO Box 309
Ugland House
KY1-1104
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Dear Sirs
Noble Holding International Limited (the “Company”)
I, Alan R. Hay, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion (the “ Opinion ”) in relation to certain aspects of Cayman Islands law. Capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:
  1   The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as registered on 6 December 2004 remain in full force and effect and are unamended.
 
  2   The Company has not entered into any mortgages or charges over its property or assets other than those entered in the register of mortgages and charges.
 
  3   The resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted by written consent on 17 November 2008 were signed by all the directors in the manner prescribed in the Articles of Association of the Company.
 
  4   The resolutions dated 18 November 2008 of the delegee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company (a copy of which is attached) have been validly passed and the delegee has been duly appointed, including in accordance with the resolutions referred to in section 3 above and the Articles of Association of the Company.
 
  5   The members of the Company have not restricted or limited the powers of the directors in any way. There is no contractual or other prohibition (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting it from entering into and performing its obligations under the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture or the Notes.
 
  6   The resolutions referred to in sections 3 and 4 above were duly adopted, are in full force and effect at the date hereof and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect.
 
  7   The directors of the Company at the date of each of the resolutions referred to in sections 3 and 4 above and at the date hereof were and are as follows:
 
      Alan R. Hay; and
Andrew J. Strong.

 


 

  8   The Minute Book and corporate records of the Company as maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands and made available to you are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete and accurate record of all meetings of the members and directors (or any committee thereof) (duly convened in accordance with the Articles of Association) and all resolutions passed at the meetings, or passed by written consent as the case may be.
I confirm that you may continue to rely on this Certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you personally to the contrary.
[Signature page follows]

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate as of the date first written above.
         
 
 
 
   
 
  Alan R. Hay    
 
  Director    

 


 

Noble Corporation
PO Box 309, Ugland House, KY1-1104
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
20 November 2008
To: Maples and Calder
P.O. Box 309
Ugland House
KY1-1104
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Dear Sirs
Noble Corporation (the Guarantor )
I, David W. Williams, being a director of the Guarantor, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion (the “ Opinion ”) in relation to certain aspects of Cayman Islands law. Capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:
  1   The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Guarantor as registered on 12 February, 2002 remain in full force and effect and are unamended save for the amendments made by special resolution dated 28 April 2005.
 
  2   The Guarantor has not entered into any mortgages or charges over its property or assets other than those entered in the register of mortgages and charges.
 
  3   The minutes of meeting of the board of directors of the Guarantor held on 31 October 2008 (a final draft of the minutes of the meeting are attached) (the “ Meeting ”) are a true and correct record of the Meeting, which was duly convened and held, and at which a quorum was present throughout and at which each director disclosed his interest (if any), in the manner prescribed in the Articles of Association of the Guarantor.
 
  4   The Pricing Committee has been duly established, and the Pricing Committee Resolutions have been validly passed, including in accordance with the resolutions passed at the Meeting and the Articles of Association of the Guarantor.
 
  5   The members of the Guarantor have not restricted or limited the powers of the directors in any way. There is no contractual or other prohibition (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Guarantor prohibiting it from entering into and performing its obligations under the First Supplemental Indenture.
 
  6   The resolutions set forth in the minutes of the Meeting and the Pricing Committee Resolutions, were duly adopted, are in full force and effect at the date hereof and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect.
 
  7   The directors of the Company at the date of the Meeting and the Pricing Committee Resolutions and at the date hereof were and are as follows:

 


 

Michael A. Cawley;
Lawrence J. Chazen;
Luke R. Corbett;
Julie E. Edward;
Marc E. Leland;
Mary P. Ricciardello;
Jack E. Little; and
David W. Williams.
  8   The Minute Book and corporate records of the Guarantor as maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands and made available to you are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete and accurate record of all meetings of the members and directors (or any committee thereof) (duly convened in accordance with the Articles of Association) and all resolutions passed at the meetings, or passed by written consent as the case may be.
I confirm that you may continue to rely on this Certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you personally to the contrary.
[Signature page follows]

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate as of the date first written above.
         
 
 
 
   
 
  David W. Williams    
 
  Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
and President
   

 

Exhibit 8.1
(MAPLES LOGO)
Our ref MQV/279908/15583223v1
Noble Holding International Limited
PO Box 309
Ugland House
KY1-1104
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
21 November 2008
Dear Sirs,
Noble Holding International Limited (the “Company”)
We have acted as Cayman Islands counsel to the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of U.S.$250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Notes” ) pursuant to the Indenture (the “ Original Indenture ”) to be dated as of 21 November 2008 between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee” ), and the First Supplemental Indenture dated (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”) to be dated as of 21 November 2008 by and among the Company, Noble Corporation and the Trustee (the Original Indenture and First Supplemental Indenture are herein collectively referred to as the “ Indenture ”).
Under the First Supplemental Indenture, Noble Corporation will guarantee, in general terms, the principal of, premium, if any, interest on and all other payment obligations of the Company due under the Indenture and the Notes (the “Guarantee” ). The Notes will be a series of the Company’s senior debt securities, and the Guarantee will be a guarantee of Noble Corporation, registered on a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-155421), as amended and supplemented (the “Registration Statement” ), filed by the Company and Noble Corporation with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” ) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ).
1. Documents Reviewed
We have reviewed and relied on copies of such corporate records and other documents, including, but not limited to, the Registration Statement, reviewed such matters of law and taken such steps, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.
2. Assumptions
Save as aforesaid we have not been instructed to undertake and have not undertaken any further inquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction the subject of this opinion. This opinion is limited to (i) Cayman Islands law as currently applied by the Cayman Islands courts and (ii) factual matters known to us as at the date hereof and is given on the basis that it will be governed by and construed


 

in accordance with Cayman Islands law. We have not made any investigation of, and do not express any opinion on, the law of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands.
We have assumed that none of the opinions expressed below would be affected by the laws (including public policy) of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands.
3. Opinions
Based on the foregoing and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we hereby confirm that the discussion under the caption “Cayman Islands Tax Considerations” contained in the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes as filed with the Registration Statement has been reviewed by us and represents our opinion, insofar as it consists of conclusions of law and is subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth in that discussion, with respect to the Cayman Islands tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Notes.
4. Disclosure
This opinion speaks as of its date and is strictly limited to the matters stated herein.
This opinion is given to you solely for use in connection with the offering of the Notes pursuant to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Noble Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on 21 November 2008, the incorporation by reference of this opinion into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the captions “Cayman Islands Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder